Page:Science (journal) Volume 47 New Series 1918.djvu/32

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aeronautical branches of the Army and Navy, and plans are being perfected at several of the training camps for free-air observations in aid of aeronautics and the firing of projectiles. Copies may be obtained on application to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, Washington, D. C.

inexhaustible deposits of manganese dioxide, which is extremely valuable as an iron-toughening material and in great demand for war munition purposes, have been found in the Cypress Hill in South-East Albert, Canada. Eight hundred thousand tons, worth approximately £11,000,000, have been blocked out by ordinary post-hole augers in the last few months. The announcement is also made that the staff of the department of mining of the University of Toronto have discovered a process by which low-grade concentrates of molybdenite can be made at little cost. Molybdenite is used for hardening and toughening steel, and it is most useful in he manufacture of high-speed tools. Quebec is a larger producer, but the need for molybdenite is great, and the new process will, it is stated, render available the deposits of low-grade molybdenum ore which have been discovered in Manitoba and British Columbia.

is stated in Nature that a report presented at the Newcastle meeting of the British Association last year directed attention to the lack of organization and general neglect of higher geodesy in the United Kingdom. The discussion upon this report led to the extension of the terms of reference of the committee so as to include, in addition to geodesy, other departments of geophysics, such as terrestrial magnetism, tides, atmospheric electricity and seismology. It was felt that steps should be taken to constitute a committee or association to promote the advance of the various branches of science which deal with the physical, metrical and dynamical properties of the earth, on both their theoretical and observational sides. Such a committee has now been appointed by the British Association and has arranged meetings for the discussion of geophysical subjects. The first meeting was held in the apartments of the Royal Astronomical Society on Wednesday, November 7, and will be presided over by the chairman of the committee. Sir Frank W. Dyson, the Astronomer Royal, who made a brief statement concerning the objects and future program of the meetings. The subject of magnetic surveys was introduced by Dr. S. Chapman, who made a report on magnetic surveys and charts by land and sea throughout the world. Dr. G. W. Walker gave an account of the recent magnetic survey of the United Kingdom made under the auspices of the Royal Society and the British Association. Major Lyons exhibited and described two of Gauss's heliotropes, on loan to the Science Museum. Among the subjects which the committee has under consideration for report and discussion at later meetings may be mentioned seiches and tides; atmospheric electricity; British earthquakes, observatories; methods and instruments in connection with the various branches of geophysics; geodetic and gravity surveys, and the constitution, temperature and other physical conditions, motions and secular changes of the interior of the earth.

to the London Times the Neue Zürcher Zeitung recently published a review of German activities in technical matters in the field of war economics, in which it is stated that systematic investigations into the properties of pit coal have been carried on by the "Kaiser Wilhelm Institut für Kohlenforschung," and have yielded important industrial results. The treatment of coal with liquid sulphurous acid at ordinary temperatures has produced viscous, golden-yellow mineral oils, the amount produced being 5 kilogs, per metric ton. A process has also been elaborated by which through heating naphthalene under pressure, in the presence of aluminium chloride, an oil is produced which can be used for illuminating purposes in the same manner as petroleum. The utilization of lignite has been greatly extended. In the first place it is being used extensively as a fuel in the industrial establishments which have recently sprung up in the central German lignite fields, especially in the neighborhood of Bitterfeld and Halle a/S, where the