Monday, February 18, and extending to Saturday, March 15.

The Whittington Glass Works (near Chesterfield) were in operation from about 1704 to the early part of the nineteenth century, its best work, of which various samples are shown, being done between 1750-1800.

THE ORIGIN OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM.

Dr.

On the evening of February 15, at the Royal Institution, Albemarle Street, Dr. J. H. Jeans addressed a distinguished and enthusiastic audience on the problem of the evolution of the solar system. Jeans' work in this fascinating field is well known, and it was with great interest that we listened to his lucid exposition of this subject.

Dr. Jeans paved the way by first explaining some of the astronomical magnitudes. Of striking significance was the statement that the solar system was isolated from all other heavenly bodies, the nearest star being 25 million million miles away. This was illustrated by considering the whole solar system reduced to the size of a threepenny piece, then on this reduced scale the nearest star would be somewhere in Piccadilly. We are thus assured of the safety of the solar system from outside interference.

Of interest in this connection was the total number of stars in the heavens. Considering the eye as the smallest telescope, it could see only a very small fraction of the total stars in a given area of the night sky, but passing step by step to larger instruments until the largest telescope was reached, the number grew progressively, but not without a mathematical limit being indicated. By this growth, therefore, a limiting number was determined, and from mathematical calculations it was deduced that the number of stars was of the order of 15 hundred million. Yet with all these stars, and the various phenomena as revealed by the largest telescope, there appeared to be no duplication of the solar system.

There are several striking phenomena observed in the heavens, as for example the ring nebula with a star at its centre, but this was quite a rarity and presumably had no importance in the scheme of planetary evolution.

On the other hand, there are numerous

spiral nebulæ. Some of these are of enornous size, and these are swirling masses of gaseous matter so rarified that ordinary gas effects involving molecular bombardment did not apply, but the law of gravitation was in evidence. In the arms of these huge spira swirls were seen bright spots or stars, indicating condensations of the gaseous matter. and here, Dr. Jeans said, stars were being born.

Recent observations had shown that the matter of these huge spiral arms was moving outwards along them, for photographs had been compared after an elapse of some years and this displacement noted.

Here we have a clue to one of the great processes of nature, for some of the nebula of this type are seen on edge, and are of the shape of a double convex lens. This shape and the thin edge indicates rotation. The peripheral part of one of these lenticular masses Was dark. indicating that no radiation was These being emitted. various nebula were shown on the screen, and dark streaks over the bright parts were pointed out by the lecturer.

It was evident that when the condensations took place great heat was present, as even in the bright parts of the nebulæ still brighter condensations appeared. These condensations presumably represent star formations, for as the mass of the star contracts its temperature increases, all in accordance with the laws of such actions. It is not supposed that the attenuated gaseous parts of the nebulæ represent high temperature, yet the stars that are born by condensations of this matter showed a state in incandescence.

In order to indicate how this process had worked in evolving the solar system, it was assumed that at an early epoch the sun was a nebulous mass much larger than at present. At some period in his history a star had brushed near enough to the sun to attract there from a filament of gaseous matter, which in turn underwent condensations similar to that observed in the nebulæ, and finally reached a comparatively cold state as we know the planets at pre

sent.

It can be shown that this nebulous stream is not stable, and that it would have broken up into isolated condensing bodies, which ultimately become the planets as we observe them. It should be noted that all these bodies are in rotation, and the matter which formed the planets must rotate quicker from dynamical considerations as the mass contracts.

Dr. Jeans explained that by applying known laws to such bodies, they would, under the conditions assumed to have prevailed in the early history of the solar system, form just such mass magnitudes as the planets possess. The largest planet, Jupiter, being towards the middle of the stream or filament, would have the largest

mass.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

What Industry owes to Chemical Science, by R. B. PILCHER, O.B.E., and F. BUTLER-JONES, B.A. (CANTAB.), A.I.C. Pp. XV. + 158. 2nd Edition, 1923. London: Messrs. Constable & Co., Ltd., 10-12 Orange Street, W.C.2. 6s. net.

It is a pleasure for chemists to note that this volume, which presents to the general public, in a readable manner, the industrial advances achieved through recent chemical research, has reached a second edition. There is still reason for regret that industrialists and persons holding official positions do not yet realise the importance of the applications of scientific knowledge. The thanks of chemists are therefore due to the authors of this volume for bringing forward evidence of the part played by chemists in the advancement of metallurgy, and in the manufacture of oils, fats and waxes, leather, rubber, pottery, photography, etc.

The scope of the book, which covers such a wide field, has not been to treat of the various industries exhaustively, but the information contained is accurate and is lucidly presented.

The first edition appeared during the war; minor additions have been made, but the character of the book remains the same, and includes an introduction by Sir George Beilby. J.G.F.D.

The first number of Milchwirtschaftliche Forschungen, a journal devoted to the study of dairy science, has just been published by Julius Springer, Berlin.

The editor is Dr. W. Grimmer, Professor at Konigsberg University, and he is assisted by an able staff of contributors. This first number contains three interesting original researches and three papers of a more general character. Book reviews and abstracts of articles in various sections of agricultural science are also included.

The price is given as $1.40.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

X-Rays and Crystal Structure, by SIR W. H. BRAGG, BRAGG, K.B.E., M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S., and W. L. BRAGG, F.R.S. Pp. VIII+ 322. Fourth Edition, 1924. Messrs. G. Bell & Sons, Ltd., York House, Portugal Street, W.C.2. 21s. net.

Chemical Synoms and Trade Names-A Dictionary and Commercial Handbook, by Pp. WILLIAM GARDNER, Works Chemist. IV. + 271. 1924. Messrs. Crosby, Lockwood & Son, Stationers' Hall Court, Ludgate Hill, E.C.4. 25s. net.

The Vegetable Proteins, by THOMAS B. OSBORNE, PH.D., Sc.D. Pp. XIII. + 154. Second Edition, 1924. Messrs. Longmans, Green & Co., 39, Paternoster Row, E.C.4. 9s. net.

Organic Synthesis, by HANS THACKER CLARKE and Others. Pp. 104. Vol. III., 1924. Messrs. Chapman & Hall, Ltd., 11, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, W.C.2. 7s. 6d. net.

Differential Equations in Applied Chemistry, by FRANK LAUREN HITCHCOCK, PH.D., and CLARK SHOVE ROBINSON, S.M. Pp. VI. + 110. 1923. Messrs. Chapman & Hall, Ltd., 11, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, W.C.2. 7s. 6d. net.

Monograph on Corrosion Tests and Materials of Construction for Chemical Engineering Apparatus, by W. S. CALCOTT, J. C. WHETZEL and H. F. WHITTAKER. Pp. VI. + 182. 1923. D. Van Nostrand Company, 8, Warren Street, New York, U.S.A. $3.00 net.

The Chemist's Year Book, by F. W. ATACK, M.SC.TECH., D.Sc. (MAN.). Pp. 1147. 1924. Messrs. Sherratt & Hughes, 34, Cross Street, Manchester. 21s.

The Fundamental Ideas of Chemistry, by DR. ALFRED BENRATH, translated by JETHRO BITHELL, M.A. Pp. 80. 1924. Messrs. G. Harrap & Co., Ltd., 39-41, Parker Street, Kingsway, W.C.2. 2s. net.

The Publicity Club of London has issued a booklet entitled The Business Value of Publicity Clubs.

3230-Soc. Chimique des Usines du Rhone.-Manufacture of calcium arsenate. Feb. 7.

3112-Soc. de Stearinerie et Savonnerie de Lyon.Manufacture of cellulose esters. Feb. 6. Specifications Published this Week.

209480-Weizman, C., and Blumenfeld, J.-Titanium compounds.

193925-Urfer, C.--Process for the manufacture of pulverulent catalysts for the synthesis of ammonia.

210011-Ashcroft, E. A.-Treatment of lead-zinc sulphide ores, mattes and the like. 210102 Scott, J. P.--Manufacture of hydrogen and oxygen.

210108-Dreyfus, H.- Manufacture of artificial horsehair and like products from cellulese derivatives.

210131-Chemical Research Syndicate, Ltd.-Process of producing hydrocarbons of relatively low boiling point.

210363-Vogel, Dr. H.-Process for the manufacture of colloidal sulphur.

Abstract Published this Week.

208578-Alkali carbonates; sulphur dioxide.-Plauson, H., of 26, Jarrestrasse, Hamburg, Germany.

gases

Alkali carbonates are obtained by treating an alkali compound such as sodium sulphate, or an insoluble silicate such as feldspar, with containing carbon monoxide with or without steam or inert gas at 400-900° C. and under reduced pressure. Accelerators, such as ammonia. amines, or nitrogen oxides, may be added to the gases in small quantities. The reaction may be effected in a rotary furnace, the solid material entering at the end at which the gases leave. When treating sodium sulphate, the sulphur dioxide evolved should be withdrawn rapidly by suction or by continuous or intermittent admission of jets of steam or inert gas. The sulphur dioxide may be oxidised to trioxide and used to convert alkali chloride into sulphate. When feldspar is treated, the alkali carbonate is extracted from the treated material by lixiviation.

When

water-gas is employed as the source of carbon monoxide, it may be enriched in carbon monoxide by adding a limited quantity of air to burn the hydrogen only. The gases need not be free from carbon dioxide. The Provisional Specification states that the reaction may be effected under pressure.

Messrs. Rayner & Co. will obtain printed copies of the published specifications and abstract only, and forward on post free for the price of 1s. 6d. each.