From the June 8, 1929 issue
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Modern engineering equipment is not ordinarily designed for its picturesqueness, but that such a mechanism may achieve a beauty of its own is shown on the cover of this issue of the SCIENCE NEWS-LETTER. The picture is from the camera of Mr. E.O. Hoppé, one of the leading British photo-pictorialists, and shows the switchboard of a great electric power station in Berlin, all under the control of one man. With the suggestion of vast forces at work the artist has obtained a result both pictorial and impressive—one for which his title, "A Symbol of Our Time," is most appropriate. EGGS HATCH EARLY UNDER ULTRAVIOLET It is now well known that ultraviolet rays, whether made by the sun or artificially, are good for animals, whether chicken or men. In spite of such bunkum, some of it harmful, a host of solid facts are being applied wisely by scientists. Dr. Charles Sheard and Dr. G.M. Higgins, experimenters of the Mayo Foundation, have just announced the results of experiments with irradiated hens' eggs. They found that by the use of a quartz-mercury arc, radiant energy can be transmitted through the shell and lining membrane of eggs. With eggs under normal incubation, ultraviolet light caused about 20 per cent of them to hatch out 24 to 48 hours sooner than other eggs of the same hatch. CENSUS TO QUERY AGE AND INDUSTRY Increasingly valuable sociological information is likely to be gathered during the course of the taking of the census in 1930 and succeeding census years. Though so far as the 1930 census is concerned, there are not so many new questions to be asked, nevertheless it seems probable that studies of unemployment and of the indigent poor, at least, will be made. It is expected that information will be gathered during the course of the taking of the census which will show the number of men and women in the United States more than 65 years of age who possess less than $5,000, or less annual income than is usually derived from a $5,000 investment. It is expected also to show the number of such persons living in institutions for the aged. |
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