Science Parade notes new emergency steels and innovation
The article describes a shift from 4000 specialty steels to 40 National Emergency steels made from available materials. It highlights the perspective window with double panes for light and ventilation, walnut shell flour as a moisture preserving filler, and Swiss gasogene devices to turn wood into gas for fuel amid wartime shortages. It also notes pest control, plant bluebells, burglar alarm ears, and Switzerland’s rationing impact.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sweden
Switzerland
Europe
Zurich
Germany
France
Italy
Growing Science Clubs of America Hydroponic Basin Method
An article describes a 16 foot long asphalt-lined wooden basin for soilless culture with detailed construction steps. It explains using roofing paper, securing seams with asphalt paint, and creating watertight flashings. It introduces a hydroponicum seedbed and notes crop suitability for annual plants like potatoes and tomatoes.
Building a Seedbed Tank for Hydroponic Growth
Instructions for a seedbed tank with a one inch mesh bottom, galvanized wire, and a moist excelsior base. Details cover seed sowing, litter depth, aeration, liquid level management, and basic hydroponic chemical mix. Includes invitation to start a Science Club via Science Service.
Hydroponic Gardening Opens New Door To Home Growers
Dr William F Gericke of Berkeley explains soilless hydroponic gardening using basins filled with nutrient water and a litter of sawdust or excelsior. Simple to build from rough lumber, it yields large crops like tomatoes and potatoes even in ordinary soil. Begin with potatoes tomatoes corn and beans then interplant for higher total yields.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
William F. Gericke
Berkeley
Calif
Gericke
N Street Nw
Washington, D. C
Hydroponics
Rubber Off Roads Could Be Salvaged for Tires
Dr. Carl Omeron of Los Angeles suggests street rubber can boost retreading material. He estimates at least one pound per tire wears off yearly across the city streets and highways. About 1,400,000 registered vehicles would leave roughly 4,000,000 pounds of scrap rubber for reuse.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Carl Omeron
Los Angeles
Dog Eats Dog In Arid West Cannibalism Among Prairie Dogs Squirrels
Dr. Albert R. Shadle of the University of Buffalo reports in Journal of Mammalogy on cannibalistic behavior among black tailed prairie dogs in the West and tree squirrels in Oregon. He links drying western plains and occasional diet shifts to meat eating amid otherwise plant feeding animals.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Albert R. Shadle
Biology Department
University of Buffalo
Mississippi
Oregon
Shadle
The
Journal of Mammalogy
West
Cats Learn to Distinguish Musical Chords, Psychologists Claim
Brooklyn College researchers trained four cats to respond to the C major chord on an accordion by rewarding correct choices and ignoring bell noises. The study, reported in the Journal of Psychology, suggests learning the whole chord pattern rather than individual notes, with the B major chord posing the greatest difficulty.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Science Service
Ree Wen Een
Brooklyn College
Charles N. Winslow
Martin Ostoff
Arnold Meadow
Journal of Psychology
TNT Toxic to Munition Workers
Washington report notes TNT and related chemicals harm workers in peaceful factories as well as in combat. The Public Health Service bulletin by W F Von Ooettingen lists chemicals from aniline to common headache powders and outlines exposure risks and protective measures.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
U. S. Public Health Service
W. F. von Ooettingen
Warm Up Letter Vv Used In Radio Test Signals
The letter V and its signals serve as a warm up or test to ready operators for listening to tune radios before real messages begin. It is sent repeatedly to ensure equipment and personnel are prepared for on air communications.
Shelters for Garages Proposed by Architects Group
Howard W. Peaslee, chair of the AIA Civilian Protection Committee, urges above ground air raid shelters that could become postwar parking garages. He also notes the new Coventry Convertibles shelters designed to serve as ground floors of future buildings.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Howard W. Peaslee
Committee On Civilian Protection
American Institute of Architects
Worth
New Inventions Show Flexible Tubing and Electric Gadgets
A survey of new wartime innovations includes copper coated steel tubing replacing flexible copper for fuel lines and a black out ventilator for sealed spaces. It also notes a new liquid plastic coating, a gasless conduit enamel option, an electron microscope with surface reflection, a single sheet plywood chair design, a self contained photoelectric light watch man and instructions to request Gadget Bulletin 109 from Science Service.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Army
Navy
Buttercup’s Cousin Marsh Marigold Confounds Name
A swamp dwelling plant called Marsh marigold looks like a large buttercup and is nearly the same in appearance yet is not related to buttercups. The piece notes its wet habitat and the effort of gathering a handful from soggy grounds.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Buttercup
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Watson Davis
England
Scotland
By Joseph H. Kraus
Science Clubs of America
N St
N. W
Lath
Adam
Eden
California
Arid
Marjorie van DE Water
Scandinavia
By Science Service