280 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



Transport at Oxford or Cambridge or one of the newer Universities, in 

 order that the science of transport might be studied apart from the un- 

 scientific and disturbing influences of poUtics and the clamour of trade dis- 

 putes." 



National Physical Laboratory 



The Stationery Office, Westminster, S.W.i, issues a circular calling 

 attention to the Report of the National Physical Laboratory for the year 1919, 

 which has recently been published. " It contains the usual account of the 

 activities of the Laboratory during the year, and on this occasion, in addition, 

 a brief account is given of the assistance rendered to the various War Depart- 

 ments of the Government during the war. The description of the methods 

 employed, and the apparatus devised for the testing, for the Ministry of 

 Munitions, of the gauges required in the manufacture of shells and other 

 munitions of war, will be found of special interest. Practically all Departments 

 of the Laboratory were mainly occupied with war work. In the Heat Depart- 

 ment, attention was given during 191 9 to refrigeration problems, especially 

 the heat-insulating properties of various materials. The heat losses in 

 furnaces were also studied. The Optical Department was much occupied 

 with calculation and design of optical systems. Improvements were made 

 in the methods of determining the optical constants of glass. New methods 

 were employed for the measurement of the radium content of radium samples, 

 and equipment Wcis provided for the investigation of protective materials 

 used in X-ray work. The Electricity Department carried out investigations 

 with regard to a number of wireless problems. Methods devised during the 

 war for measuring the velocities of gun projectiles and gun recoil were further 

 investigated. Research on the heating of buried cables, and on resistance 

 materials (manganin, etc.), made good progress. The Metrology Department 

 resumed its normal work in the verification of length standards, gauges, etc. 

 Arrangements were made for the testing of volumetric glassware. The report 

 of the Engineering Department describes much interesting research work, 

 including experiments on the lubricating efficiency of oils, the transmission 

 of heat from surfaces to fluids flowing over them, friction between fluids and 

 surfaces with which they are in contact, methods of hardness testing and 

 notched bar intact testing, the photography of projectiles in flight, etc. 

 An account is given of experiments made during the war on the location of 

 sounds. A short account is given of the advances made in Aeronautics 

 research carried out for the Air Ministry. The researches carried out in the 

 Metallurgy Department, described in the Report, include much work on light 

 alloys both cast and wrought, investigations during the war as to substitute 

 alloys, the causes of failure of materials, methods of hardening and case 

 hardening, etc. The work on pots for the melting of optical glass made good 

 progress. An interesting account is given of experiments in the William 

 Froude National Tank during the war on mines, nets for defence against 

 submarines, and for catching enemy submarines, the firing of torpedoes, 

 seaplane floats and flying-boat hulls. A very complete investigation was 

 carried out of the forms of ships with straight frames. The Report forms a 

 volume of 150 pages, 10 J in. x 7I in., and is published at 55. net (post free 

 5s.5d.). 



The Sister o£ Science (R. R.) 



Like Hippocrene, the spring of English poetry runs on for ever, though 

 there be none beside it to mark its beauty or to drink of its waters. Men 

 of Science should, however, always endeavour to visit the fountain from 

 time to time ; and we may therefore say a few words about some good verse 

 which has recently appeared and which others may like to taste. 



