NA TURE 



641 



SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1923. 



Research. 



CONTENTS. 



By Prof. L. Bairstow, 



Aeronautical 



F.R.S. 

 Biology at the Cross-roads. By Tudor Jones 

 Mathematical Astronomy. By H. C. P. 

 Medieval Science. By Mrs. Singer 

 Chemical Works of Reference . 

 Our Bookshelf ..... 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Psycho-Analysis and Anthropology. — Dr. Bronislaw 

 Malinowski ..... 



.Spectra of Isotopes. — Prof. A. L. Narayan 



A Substitute for the McLeod Gauge. — Dr. Norman 



R. Campbell, Bernard P. Dudding, and John 



W. Ryde .... 



Zoological Bibliography. — T. Sheppard 



A New Method of Crystal Powder .Analysis by X-rays, 



{With Diagrams.) — Dr. J. Brentano 

 A Large Sarsen Stone. {Illustrated.) — C. CaruS' 



Wilson 



Dr. Kanmierer's Ciona Experiments. — H. Munro 

 Fox ....... 



' Selective Interruption of Molecular Movements. 

 Prof. F. A. Lindemann, F.R.S. 

 Effects of Anaesthetics on Plants.— Miss E. Philip 



Smith 



Stereoisomerism among Derivatives of Diphenyl. — 

 Prof. T. M. Lowry, F.R.S. • 

 The Origin of Optical Spectra. By R. H. Fowler 

 Symbiosis in Animals an J Plants. By Prof. Georgi 



H. F. Nuttall, F.R.S 



Crete as a Stepping-Stone of Early Culture 

 New Lights. By Sir Arthur Evans, F.R.S 

 Obituary : — 



Rev. H. J. Bidder. By F. K. • 

 Dr. William Crooke .... 

 Current Topics and Events 

 Our Astronomical Column 

 Research Items ..... 



Physical Chemistry and Physiologfy at the British 



Association . . . ■ ■ 

 Science and Social Service 

 The Frenophone (Illnsiraled.) 

 University and Educational Intelligence 

 Societies and Academies . 

 Official Publications Received . 

 Diary of Societies .... 



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Editorial communications to the Editor. 



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Aeronautical Research. 



PROGRESS in aeronautical research has, through- 

 out the year, been continuous but slow." 

 This, the opening sentence of the report of the Advisory 

 Committee for Aeronautics for the past year, indicates 

 a measure of anxiety and leaves the impression that, 

 in the view of the Committee, insufficient attention is 

 being paid to the researches which it advises. 



A further paragraph makes a note of the view that 

 " Funds devoted to research by trained staffs will gi\e 

 a better return to the State than the offer of large sums 

 as prize money for limited lines of attack on the 

 problems of flight." The reference here is obviously 

 to the prize offer of 50,000/. for a successful helicopter, 

 and it would appear that the Aeronautical Committee 

 dissociates itself from that scheme. In all these 

 matters, however, and under the most favourable 

 conditions, the Committee can only tender advice ; 

 all executive action rests with the Air Ministry. 



In spite of a machine which, when dealing with 

 scientific matters, grinds at every turn of the wheels, 

 progress is reported in many directions. A wide range 

 of subjects for research is dealt with but the degrees 

 of urgency are very variable. There are problems 

 connected with the trustworthiness of aero engines 

 and their economical running. Fire prevention in air- 

 craft is studied by a special sub-committee, and 

 recommendations have been made which may be 

 expected to reduce substantially this type of flying 

 risk. The properties of metals, particularly in regard 

 to fatigue, are receiving much attention in view of the 

 fact that aeronautics depends for success on the build- 

 ing of light structures with a definite minimum of 

 strength, and that the ordinary uses of metals in 

 engineering practice do not call for a degree of refine- 

 ment essential to aircraft construction. None of these 

 problems, however, possesses the present importance 

 and urgency of a closer examination of the aerodynamic 

 properties of aeroplanes than has hitherto been 

 attempted. Flight under critical conditions is required 

 with the necessary instruments for accurate observation 

 by a trained staff. The bottle neck of research occurs 

 precisely at this point ; for there is no sj)ecific allocation 

 of staff for scientific research. 



We have all had recent opportunities of observing 

 the results of public inquiries into one or two cases of 

 fatal accident arising during the use of civil aeroplanes. 

 It may have been noticed that no blame is attached to 

 individuals, and that the causes of the accidents arc 

 returned as unknown. In a certain sense no objection 

 can be taken to such findings ; indeed, they can be 

 heartily endorsed so far as personnel is concerned. On 



NO. 2818, VOL. I 12] 



