Page:Popular Mechanics 1928 11.pdf/15

 

The cosmic rays discovered a few years ago by Prof. R. A. Millikan, the famous California scientist, are the waste energy generated by the creation of oxygen, magnesium, silicon and iron in the vast laboratories of outer space, according to a recent announcement by their discoverer. The cosmic rays are the most minute, yet most powerful radiations ever detected, with wavelengths less than one-hundredth of those of radium, and yet requiring the enormous electrical potential of 59,000,000 volts to generate them. Their initial discovery was made by sending electroscopes into the upper atmosphere, attached to sounding balloons, and then studying their recorded findings when the gas bags came back to earth. In his latest experiments, Professor Millikan measured their penetration in the clear waters of a high mountain lake. The presence or absence of the billions of stars which compose the Milky Way had no effect on their intensity, so they apparently come from more distant realms of space. Professor Millikan found that the rays were able to penetrate 16.7 feet of lead or 190 feet of water.

 

Paint adheres to wood chiefly by gaining mechanical grip in minute openings on the surface of the wood, forest products laboratory experts have concluded after an investigation into the causes of paint scaling and other factors connected with paints. What is needed, they declare, is an improvement in painting practice, a method that will cause the paint to cling more firmly rather than scale off. The effect of the grain of the wood on the durability of a coat of paint can be seen on wood that has wide annual rings. The part that grew rapidly in the spring contains more openings than the summer part, which is denser. Paint scales off this summer band much more quickly than it does from the spring wood, the investigators found.

¶ Every hour, fires destroy two human lives and approximately $60,000 worth of property in the United States.

 



Football men at West Point have discarded the old unsanitary sponge in favor of a water spray wagon from which eight men may refresh themselves at the same time and with much less trouble. A fine spray is forced through the nozzles in such a way that it reaches the face and neck with cooling effect and without spilling so much water on the suits. The wheels are equipped with heavy rubber tires so that the wagon can be trundled over almost any ground with little difficulty.

 



Ordinary envelopes are quickly identified for delivery to the air mail with a stamping outfit that prints the words "via air mail" in red and blue, conforming to the postal regulations. The contrivance is fitted with a self-contained pad, the rubber die being adjusted for automatic self-inking, in the same manner as most other similar stampers for quick and efficient work.

