RECENT ADVANCES IN PHYSICS 



In the introductory portion of his lecture Professor McLennan 

 dwelt on the importance, from the point of view of the national 

 welfare, of developing Scientific and Industrial Research in Canada. 



He briefly described the various steps which had been taken 

 which led up to the creation in 1916 of The Advisory Council for 

 Scientific and Industrial Research. 



In emphasizing the work already accomplished by this Council 

 the lecturer referred briefly to the system of Fellowships. Scholarships 

 and Bursaries which had been established by the Council for the 

 training of Research workers in our Universities. 



The importance to Manitoba and Saskatchewan of the investiga- 

 tion on the briquetting of lignites in Southern Manitoba, which was 

 about to culminate in the erection of a works for the supply of fuel 

 of high thermal efficiency, was also pointed out. 



The main part of the lecture was, however, taken up with an 

 account of the reseaich work on Helium with which Professor 

 McLennan had been more immediately connected. 



In dealing with this subject the lecturer asked his hearers to 

 keep in mind that he chose to particularize in this way with the 

 object of illustrating how scientific research work forms a substantial 

 basis on which to develop existing industries or to build up new ones. 

 From the national point of view it was desirable to add to the wealth 

 of the community at the present in every way possible and no surer 

 method was available than one which applied science and scientific 

 knowledge in such a way as to utilize as many as possible of our 

 natural resources. 



Shortly after the commencement of the war in 1914 it became 

 evident that if helium were available in sufficient quantities to replace 

 hydrogen in naval and military airships losses in life and equipment 

 would be very greatly lessened. 



The fact that helium is both non-inflammable, non-explosive, 

 and possesses 92 per cent, of the lifting power of hydrogen, makes it a 

 most suitable filling for airship envelopes. By the use of helium the 

 engines of airships can be placed within the envelope if desired. A 

 further advantage possessed by helium over hydrogen is that the 

 buoyancy may be increased or decreased at will by heating and cooling 

 the gas by electric or other means, which fact may possibly lead to 

 considerable modification in the technique of airship manoeuvring 

 and navigation. Moreover, the loss of gas from diffusion through 



