July 15, 1909J 



NA TURE 



83 



relatively slow spiral motion ; on the other hand, there is 

 no direct evidence that such an outward spiral motion 

 exists. 



Recent work shows that the radial motion is confined 

 to the lower chromosphere — the " reversing layer." In the 

 higher chromosphere the absorption lines H,, K,, and 

 probably Ha, are usually twisted in the opposite direction 

 to the other lines, thus indicating an inward movement of 

 the vapours. This apparently agrees with Prof. Hale's ob- 

 servation of a darlc flocculus moving towards the centre 

 of the spot. There is still an apparent discrepancy between 

 this radial movement and the vortex motions invoked by 

 Prof. Hale to explain the Zeeman effect in sun-spot lines, 

 and, according to Mr. Evershed's results, the vortex, if it 

 exists, either above or Ijelow a sun-spot, does not affect the 

 absorbing gases of the " reversing layer " in the penumbrse 

 of spots. 



BiN.\RV .Star Orrits. — In No. 4, vol. xxix., of the Aslro- 

 pltysical Journal, Father Stein discusses the photometric 

 observations of the binary star RZ Cassiopeiae on the 

 assumption that it is an .\lgol variable. Assuming that the 

 orbit is circular, and that the mean densities of the two 

 compoiients are equal, he finds that the mass of the system 

 is roo2 the sun's mass, the mass of the bright body, the 

 primary, being o'646 sun's mass; the radius of the bright 

 body is i'43, and that of the satellite 1-17 the sun's radius, 

 the mean density of each bodv being 0222 that of the sun's 

 density. The centres of the two bodies are separated by 

 0-022 astronomical unit. 



No. 13, vol. i., of the publications of the Alleghcnv 

 Observatory, contains a discussion of the orbits of the 

 spectroscopic components of 2 Lacertre, by Mr. R. H. 

 Baker. In spectrograms of this star taken on fine-grained 

 plates, the lines of the components are, at certain epochs, 

 separated, and it is interesting to note that the " blend " 

 curve differs considerablv from various parts of the primary 

 curve, tlius suggesting that for all spectroscopic binaries 

 having a large range of velocities it is desirable that 

 spectrograms should be taken on the finest-grained plates 

 obtainable at the epochs of maximum velocity. The 

 measurement of such plates might, supposing the lines to 

 be separated, considerably modify the results obtained from 

 coarser-grained plates on which the component spectra are 

 inseparable. Mr. Baker finds the period of this star to be 

 2-6164 days. 



MiCROMETRic Measures of Dourle Stars. — In No. 4336 

 of the Astronomische Nachricltlcii, Mr. Phillip Fox publishes 

 the measures of a number of miscellaneous double stars 

 made with the 12-inch and 40-inch refractors of the Verkcs 

 Observatory. The 40-inch is not used regularly for this 

 work, but is employed when conditions are not suitable for 

 securing parallax plates. Mr. Fox's observing-list is mainly 

 made up of Holden double-stars, about half of which have 

 now been observed, but these measures are reserved until 

 the complete list is re.ady. The present publication includes 

 the measures, made during 1007-8, of about 130 multiple 

 systems. 



The Identity of Comets igoSa and 19086 (Encke). — In 

 No. 4332 of the Astrotiomisclie Nachrichten, Dr. Ebell 

 discusses the question of the identity of comet iqoSn with 

 Encke's comet. It will be remembered that when iqo8a 

 was first discovered by Prof. Wolf, it was announced as 

 being Encke's comet, but the latter was not discovered 

 until May. 1908, when it was found by .Mr. Woodgate at 

 the Cape Observatory. Dr. Ebell finds that both the motion 

 and the brightness of comet 1008a are against the theory 

 of identity with FZncke's, for the latter was, theoretically, 

 much fainter, about 3'S magnitudes, than the observed 

 object. There still remains the question as to whether 1908(1 

 was a fragment of Encke's, split off by some accidental 

 encounler or explosion, and this question is being investi- 

 gated at Pulkowa. 



Comet iquga. — Photographs of comet 19090 (Borrelly- 

 Daniel) were obtained at the Greenwich Observatory, with 

 the 30-inch reflector, on June 22 and 30, and the resulting 

 positions are published in No. 4337 of the Astronomischc 

 Nachrichten. The same journal also contains a set of 

 elements computed by Prof. R. T. Crawford, and elements 

 and ephemeris calculated by Prof. Kobold. 



NO. 2072, VOL. 81] 



THE RING ON INCREASED PROVISION 

 FOR ADVANCED SCIENTIFIC INSTRUC- 

 TION AND RESEARCH. 



Imperial College of Science and Technology. 



THE King laid the first stone of the new buildings of the 

 Imperial College of Science and Technology on Thurs- 

 day, July a. The plans exhibited were those of the Royal 

 School of Mines and an extension of the City and Guilds 

 of London Institute, which will occupy the block of ground 

 at the corner of Exhibition and Prince Consort Roafls, 

 South Kensington, and extend as far west as the Royal 

 College of Music. The Imperial College of Science and 

 Technology consists at present of the Royal School of 

 Mines, the Royal College of Science, and the City and 

 Guilds of London Institute, and is administered by a Board 

 of governors appointed by Royal charter, and under the 

 presidency of Lord Crewe. 



It is interesting to note that the first building to be 

 erected bv the governors of the Imperial College is the 

 much-needed one for the Royal School of Mines, and that 

 the funds for the purpose have been provided chiefly by 

 the late Mr. Alfred Beit and Sir Julius Wernher, of the 

 mining house of Messrs. Wernher, Beit and Co. 



The life of the Royal School of Mines has been one of 

 many vicissitudes. F^ven from the time af its foundation 

 in 1851, difticulty has been experienced in providing 

 adequate accommodation. The move from Jermyn Street 

 to South Kensington, which began in 1872, and, as was 

 stated by Lord Crewe in his address to his Majesty, was 

 not completed until 1880, furnished better accommodation 

 for subjects such as chemistry, physics and mechanics; 

 geologv was probably in but little worse position than in 

 Jermyn Street, and metallurgy had better laboratories than 

 before, but mining, which was the last to move, has had 

 but poor quarters. The demand for scientific education, 

 however, has grown so rapidly that even the laboratories 

 for chcmistrv and physics soon became too small, and the 

 fine buildings in Imperial Institute Road, in which the 

 Royal College of Science has its chemical and physical 

 laboratories, have for the past two years received the 

 students. The buildings now to be erected will comprise 

 well equipped laboratories, museums, lecture- and class- 

 rooms, and drawing offices for the mining, metallurgical, 

 and geological sections, and, in a one-storied building, 

 2^0 feet bv 120 feet, under a separate roof, ore-dressing 

 testing works and an experimental metallurgical laboratory 

 are to be erected, the equipment being provided by the 

 Bessemer Memorial Committee. 



The extension of the City and Guilds of London Institute 

 will include a laboratory for the study of hydraulics, 

 equipped by Mr. G. Hawksley, but the extension is chiefly 

 neccssarv on account of the number of students having 

 alreadv outgrown the space available, and the introduction 

 of advanced courses on special subjects requiring more 

 room. Here, again, top-lighted courts will allow the exten- 

 sion of the mechanical laboratories of the institute. The 

 Goldsmiths' Company has provided a large sum towards 

 this work. 



In the course of his reply to the address delivered by 

 Lord Crewe on behalf of the governors, professors, students, 

 and staff of the Imperial College, the King said : — 



" The concentration of various associated colleges into 

 one institution, which was effected by. our Order in Council 

 of July, 1907, has always seemed to me to be an admirable 

 scheme for the furtherance of scientific instruction, which 

 mv dear father had so much at heart ; and the names 

 which appeared in the first list of the members of the 

 governing body were sufficient in themselves to give the 

 colle.fe a very high status in the educational world. 



" The purposes of the college, as stated in the charter, 

 are to give the highest specialised instruction and to 

 provide the fullest equipment for advanced teaching and 

 research in various branches of science, especially in its 

 application to industry. In recent years the supreme im- 

 portance of higher scientific education has. I am happy to 

 sav. been fully recognised in F'nrjiand ; and as time goes 

 on I feel more and more convinced that the prosperity, even 

 the verv safetv and existence, of our country depend on 

 the quality of the scientific and technical training of those 

 who are to guide and control our industries. The rapid 



