Science and TechnologySource: The Scientific Monthly, Vol. 73, No. 3 (Sep., 1951), pp. iv-vPublished by: American Association for the Advancement of ScienceStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20547 .

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r Science and Technology X (From the Month's New.s Releases)

Astronomy in the News Milton L. Humason, of the Mount Wilson and Palo-

mar observatories, reported to the Astronomical Society of the Pacific recently that in the spectra of light from faint nebulae he had found red-shifts corresponding to speeds ranging up to more than one fifth the speed of light. With the world's largest telescope he has now extended the observed range of the law by 50 per cent, indicating that the universe is expanding at an almost unbelievable rate far out into space. The National Geographic Society-Palomar Observatory Sky Survey has also announced the discovery by Albert G. Wilson and Robert G. Harrington of a small comet in the con- stellation of Ophiuchus.

On the other side of the continent, Harvard College Observatory is on the trail of meteors as small as buck- shot with a new 5,000-pound Super-Schmidt Meteor Camera designed by Perkin-Elmer, with the assistance of the Optical Glass Division of the National Bureau of Standards. Funds were provided by the Navy Bureau of Ordnance. Harvard will receive a second camera within

a few months; later two will go to the University of Ottawa and two more to the USAF Geophysical Re- search Directorate, Cambridge, Mass., for study of the behavior of extremely fast projectiles in regions of low air density.

Meanwhile, Westinghouse is building at its Sunnyvale, Calif., plant coronagraphs for virtually continuous day- time study of the sun's corona, through the use of "artificial" eclipses. The two new instruments will be used near Climax in the Colorado Rockies and on Sac- ramento Peak, near High Rolls, N. M. Basic research is expected to make possible accurate long-range ter- restrial weather forecasting and to unlock some of the secrets of the atom and the ionosphere. Among the many scientists engaged in the work are Donald H. Menzel, Walter 0. Roberts, and Marcus O'Day.

Faster Filing Kard-a-Film uses microfilm as the filing instrument.

One 8" x 5" card will hold sixty-five 11" x 8'/2" micro- filmed records. The same file drawer that holds 3,000-

Several thousand plastic pillow balloons carrying up to 200 single 6" x 4" sheets of paper with printed messages

on both sides were released last month over Czechoslovakia in Operation "Winds of Freedom," experimental project

of the Crusade for Freedom. Svoboda, Czech for freedom, is imprinted in 5-inch letters on both sides of the balloon, which tends to float at a constant altitude. It returns to earth by leakage through pores of the fabric and catches

on bushes and fences. At right technician releases second type of carrier rubber balloon filled with helium or hydrogen

gas. It climbs rapidly into the upper winds that blow always from west to east. Carrying a load of 3.6 pounds of mes-

sages, or 2,200 single sheets, it bursts at 30,000 feet, scattering messages over a large area. Both plastic and rubber

balloons follow predetermined paths deep into the target country.

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4,000 letter-size records will hold up to 25,000 records on Kard-a-Film. Indexing can be done on both the card and on the film, and the card mnay be tabbed, labeled, coded, or colored. It is usable with all known filing systems.

Early Diagnosis Although the colostrum formula for pregnancy de-

termination was discovered several years ago, appli- cation of the so-called Q-Test has not been general. By means of a microdispenser the formula may now be injected in the superficial layer of skin in the patient's forearm. This raises a wheal about 0.5 cm in diameter. If pregnancy exists, the wheal does not increase in size, whereas on the nonpregnant- woman it will double or triple in size within 30 minutes. Accuracy is said to be approximately 95 per cent.

Car Protector A sheet of transparent plastic sheeting made into a

flexible crib or play pen fits any standard two- or four- door sedan where windows roll down. The seat cushion is fully covered and protected, and the child cannot roll off or be thrown against the front seat. Makes driving with a child safe and almost peaceful.

Optical Illusion With the star finder you, too, can learn to identify

the Great Bear, the Scorpion, Orion, and many miore constellations, as well as planets. Thirty different charts of the heavens are furnishecl with this new optical in- strument that projects them on the night sky, apparently labeling the stars. Included is a list of visible planets and a key to how to find them for the next two years.

Markers Sleeve-type markers of rigid plastic have an overlay

of clear plastic to protect lettering or color banding and are made as small as 1/16 inch in diameter or as large as 3 inches. Flat-type markers come in any size, shape, or thickness, punched with any number of holes of any shape. More expensive is the Vari-Typer brand- ing machine that looks and operates like a typewriter. Tubing used for wire terminals is run through the ma- chine and permanently branded with an electric heat- ing unit. There is changeable type, as well as special symbols and foreign languages.

Pellet-Borne The Agricultural Experiment Station at Fayatteville,

Ark., has devised an interesting technique for rice field mosquito control, where the critical problem has been to insure that a lethal dose of an insecticide would fall through the rice foliage and into the water. Inexpensive bentonite pellets have been developed that will pene- trate the cover and release the toxicant after coming in contact with water. Heavier than fine dusts, sprays, or aerosols, they drift less and can be applied from greater heights, making it feasible to use smaller, cheaper, and lower-powered airplanes.

Mower A change from cast aluminum to molded plastic has

lowered the weight of a standard electric lawnmower to 45 pounds (and the price to $79.50). According to its manufacturer, it is easier to push than a carpet sweeper. Rain, dew, or lawn spray won't injure it, and the color of the housing and wheel disks never changes, so no painting is ever required.

X-Ray Technology Xeroradiography (pronounced "Zeroradiography") is

a fast, low-cost, dry, direct-positive process for producS ing X-ray images. Battelle Memorial Institute, in coop- eration with the Haloid Company and General Electric X-ray Corporation, is working on the process for appli- cation to fast, economical industrial X-ray inspection. It may also possibly be used in the inspection of ordnance and other war material and in the field of medical diag- nosis. In 1949 Charles D. Oughton and Eugene C. Ricker, of Battelle, won first prize in the Color Division in the Third International Photography-in-Science Salon, sponsored by THE SCIENTIFIC MONTHLY and the Smithsonian Institution, for their transparency "Xero- graphic Developing Process," from which xeroradiog- raphy has been evolved.

Processing Pumps Whole blood, plasma, hormones, vaccines, and many

other sterile solutions, viscous or nonviscous, hot or cold, may be safely dispensed in small measured volumes without danger of contamination with new stainless steel pumps. The demountable pump head is easily cleaned and steam-autoclaved. Variable capacities from 24 to 1,800 ml/min.

Carrousel A round wagon that revolves as it is pulled is a

combination miniature merry-go-round and standard wagon; a locking contact button provides control. It has all-steel undercarriage and body, 2A2" hard rubber drive wheels, with 11/5'' rubber tires, and no gears. All parts are machine-welded. It is 2 feet in diameter and is finished in baked enamel in red or blue.

Microfile Copies Eastman Kodak has announced a method of making

microfile copies of radiographs that will accomplish the precise copying of hundreds on a single roll of film. The machine that does the work is completely automatic, and no operator can possibly introduce variations in its operation. Available through X-ray products dealers.

Counter An infinite life Geiger counter that will operate under

conditions of an ambient temperature of 142? C has been developed for special work. It has been named Phoenix after that legendary bird.

Address a post card to Science & Technology, 1515 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington 5, D. C., for further information about any item on pages iv and v.

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