32 



LIFE S BEGINNING ON THE EARTH 



Fig. 16. Wheel Spoke Arrangement around a Contracting Air 



Bubble in Gelatin 



A radial striation, as shown in the above microphotograph (magnified 

 450 times), arises in gelatin, if a small air buble is included in it while it is 

 poured as a warm solution on a glass plate. As the gelatin cools, the 

 bubble contracts and consequently exerts a pull in all directions upon the 

 solidified gelatin around it. The result is that a stripe formation arises 

 in the gelatin which radiates from the contracted air bubble in all direc- 

 tions. The origin of this radiation can be easily understood by comparing 

 this figure with Figure 14, in which a linear pull is shown to produce a 

 parallel striation. Naturally, the concentric pull of the contracting air 

 bubble must produce a radial striation. (Biitschli, Atlas XXII.) 



Fig. 17. Two Am Bubbles within Microscopic Distance, Producing a 



"Spindle" between Them 



If two contracting air bubbles are in close proximity, a curious looking 

 "double aster" arises; the two sets of radial striatums now interfere with 

 each other, producing what looks like a spindle. ( Magnified 450 times.) 



Biitschli, Atlas I, 7. 



