METEOROLOGY. A precipitation gage (above), protected by screens from die wind, measures snow which has fallen into its chamber. Twelve nations are operating more than 50 observation stations in Antarctica,
Twice-daily weather charts of the continent are pro pared by scientists of several nations at Antarctic Weather Central, Little America· One result: improved forecasts for the entire Southern Hemisphere
International Geophysical Year: ΙΘΎ, a n international program, is «Iso an interscientific one· A big characteristic is cooperative effort toward a common goal IN? POINT OF TUWIE, the IGY program
this week readies its halfway mark. How is it coming; along? Is it lagging, holding its own, or exceeding expecta tions? Has it started producing any benefits? What are some of its devel oping implications? For answers to these questions C&EN turns again to Joseph Kaplan, chairman of the U. S. National Committee for the Interna tional Geophysical Year (see C&EN, Aug. 22, 1955, page 3478). gt Almost Embarrassing. Progress, says Kaplan, is good. In general, all ph-ases are producing excellent results and some have already gone far beyond highest expectations. In a sense, he adds, progress is almost embarrassingly Look Magazine good, i n mat it's becoming more and Joseph Kaplan, a physicist w h o also holds a B.S. in chemistry» divides his time more desirable t o go to Congress with partially b e t w e e n his duties in Washington, D . C , and his duties as a professor of physics at d i e University of California at Los Angeles. Kaplan is chairman a xequest for more funds. Even satel of d i e U. S. National Committee for the International Geophysical Year lite progress is satisfactory, impressions 100
C&EN
MARCH
3 1.
1958
iïfâtW $%Mé.
NAS-IGY Photo
Nat. Bur. of Std. Boulder, Colo.
gp
r*s 1MI S&U&3
^Vt?i
NAS-IGY Photo
NAS-IGY Photo
MANY FIELDS. IGY cuts across the scientific spectrum, using scientists and instruments from varied fields. Parabolic antennas (upper left) and cosmic ionization chamber (loAver right)
work on cosmic rays. Pyrheliometers (lower left) are used for solar radiation studies, while a Ruska earth-inductor and galvanometer (upper right) is used in geomagnetism work
A Progress Report gained from the popular press notwithstanding. In any scientific undertaking of satellite's nature a formal schedule of development, o f course, cannot be followed. Nevertheless, launching of the Soviet Sputnik became the occasion for questions from several sources regarding a "lag in U. S. science." Kaplan speaks of a Soviet scientist's comment to him on the occasion of the first Sputnik's launching. The Russian pointed out that Kaplan himself had predicted that a Soviet satellite would be in the skies before one was launched by the U. S. Kaplan does not remember ever having made such a prediction. But the Russian's comment does illustrate the probability that neither Russian nor American scientists particularly regarded themselves as being primarily in a race. A t any rate, launching of Vanguard with its solar cells on March 17 is expected to provide U. S. scientists with data for a long time after IGY is ended. ί Results Coming In. In some phases, findings from IGY may b e a
long time in coming. But already some results are apparent. Studies of the structure of the whole Antarctic continent, he says, are pro ducing dramatic information. Byrd Station, for example, is found to be standing on a n ice sheet almost 10,000 feet thick. Also, core samples taken from the ice at depths of more than 1O00 feet are proving invaluable in studying climate and precipitation over many hundreds of years. Rocket research in the upper atmos phere is also proving fruitful, Kaplan says. U. S. workers at Canada's Fort Ohurchill were fortunate in being able t o send a rocket straight into an auroral display for the first time. And they have recently repeated the perform ance. Already, in the course of rocket work, confirmation has been obtained for certain theories on ionization and its association with radio blackouts. Kaplan points t o oceanography as an other area where interesting results al ready have been found. Scientists on the research ship Crawford, cruising a route covered years ago by the German
NAS-IGY Photo
OCEANOGRAPHY. A marine magne tometer being lowered from fantail of the R / S Vema, currently on a 10-month research cruise in the South Atlantic MARCH
3 1. 1958
C&EN
ΙΟΙ
Get light of needed wavelength at the turn of a
Bausch & Lomb Grating Monochromaters with
CIKTIFIED PRECISION GRATINGS • Direct irradiation • U-V microscopy • Photo-chemistry • Physical chemistry • Spectro-photometry
ship Meteor, discovered definite changes in the amount of oxygen dissolved in the Atlantic ocean in the region of 15° south latitude. Another finding during IGY is that concentration of carbon dioxide in the Antarctic atmosphere is about the same as it is i n most of the world. This is of particular interest, since there is current concern that our industrialized civilization is adding tremendous amounts of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Some scientists fear that infrared absorption by carbon dioxide could change the earth's heat balance enough eventually to cause the polar ice caps to melt. • More Popular Interest. But benefits from scientific results may be only a part of our over-all gain from IGY. More than a few persons, according to Kaplan, have grown very strong for keeping science on a more international basis after IGY is officially ended. H e doesn't see a new IGY or other program of so large a scope. But, he adds, new associations and special committees have been and are being formed to help promote international science. This is all to the good, he says. People are now getting a feel for what international science can do. As such associations and committees are formed, the value, importance, and desirability
of international cooperation in broader areas cannot help but b e noted. A Christian here, says Kaplan, thinks like a Christian anywhere else; a scientist here thinks like a scientist anywhere else; but a politician here does not necessarily think like a politician anywhere else. Any permanent international cooperation stemming from IGY might help in areas other than the purely scientific. Kaplan points to his experience with Congress as an indication of rising popular interest in science in this country. He reasons that congressmen, like most other people, are anxious to d o the best job they possibly can. For them, this means representing as closely as possible the wishes and best interests of their constituents back home. Congressmen, he says, collectively and individually, show great understanding and sympathy for IGY's goals. Hnterscientific Trends Noted. Recalling his undergraduate days a s a chemistry major at Johns Hopkins, Kaplan notes that students covered more of the broad scientific basics and did less specialization. In more recent years the trend has been toward specialization in a particular branch of science or engineering. But lately this trend is being reversed. IGY, Kaplan believes, points up the logic of this re-
Pure, intense light . . . ultra-violec, visible, or infra-red—just turn the micrometer drum to set the grating to the desired wavelength. Wadeclioice of gratings for full range coverage (2000A-14,OOOA), or for more intensive U-V or infra-red study. Nine momochromator models, with linear- dispersion from 66A/mm to l6,5Ajmitx, first order. B&L OPTICS FOR ULTRA-VIOLET WORK Complete accessories for critical study under high, intensity U-V illumination. Twice the resolving power attainable with visible ligne WRITE FOR INFORMATIVE DATA . . . For your copy of Catalog D-259, for a.n obligation-free demonstration, for «Xpert advice on specific applications, write c o Bausch 8c Lomb Optical Co., 74850 Sc. Paul Street, Rochester 2, New York.
BAUSCH ér LOMB America's only complete optical source... from glass to finished ptoduct
102
C&EN
M A R C H 3 1, 1968
Nat. Bui. of Std., Boulder,
Colo.
AURORA AND AIR G LOW. A scanning photoelectric photometer atop Fritz Peak, Colo., measures airglow intensity (above). Scheduling IGY for period of expected greatest solar activity has paid off for 3 9 U. S. observation points. Three large solar flares have resulted in auroras visible as far south as Havana
versai. Scientists and engineers of aU types are engaged in one phase or another of the program. As a prime example h e singles out the close cooperation bet-ween physical scientists and medical people in human physiology studies at a chain of stations in the Antarctic. Other interscientific work, either planned or being carried out, involves studies in dentistry, psychology, botany, migration o f animals, and other fields. Most of this will b e done in the two polar regions. But these are all typical of the kind of work that is going on in all phases of the over-all IGY program. All océanographie cruises, almost as a matter of procedure, include marine biology studies as part of their scheduled objectives. And in some future Vanguardprogram satellites, basic biological r e search will be carried out on small living organisms in the form of yeast. Crossing of scientific boundaries in this manner is not limited to the U. S. program. Other nations are doing t h e same type of thing. p O n e Fear Dispelled. IGY puts heavy emphasis on cooperation, both international and interscientific. Does IGY, then, bear out the fears expressed in some quarters that the day of t h e scientific individualist i s gone? Emphatically not, says Kaplan. True, IGY is a program based on cooperation and teamwork. But it is also a program made up of many projects, large and small. Almost invariably, these projects were born in the mind of some individual back along the line somewhere. In most cases that individual is now doing the work—and in all cases he has complete freedom t o do it as h e sees fit, within limitations of the budget granted for his work. Far from ending the days of the individual scientist, Kaplan points out, IGY is allowing tests of individual theories, often for the first time. And also in many cases, IGY provides the only circumstances under which such tests can be made. • Conclusions Coming Along Fine. Results from dozens of studies are rolling into IGY information centers at increasing rates. Some of them confirm previous predictions. Some of them are surprising. All are scientifically interesting.
THE COVER: Member of Antarctic wintering-over party views interior of snow cove a t Kainan Bo/
BETHLEHEM PLURO STOPPER for Laboratories
and Glass Shops
ONE PLURO STOPPER EQUALS 1 7 STANDARD STOPPERS Provide vacuum tight fit for all size openings — 18 mm to 100 mm. An ideal bushing be· | tween tubing, bottles and other glassware. FOR GLASSBLOW1NO. One stopper will ^ fit every size tubing ranging from 18 mm to 10O mm. Can be used for plug or air -it with swivel and t.^whose. STANDARD—Range 18 to 1O0 mm RS2A Rubber $3.95 ca. RS2B Neoprene4.55 " JUNIOR—Range 18 t o 7 0 mm RS2C Rubber $2.00 ca. RS2DXeoprene2.30 "
BETHLEHEM Apparatus Company, Inc. HEILERTOWN,
PENNSYLVANIA
Pale in color and chemically unique, Piccopale, a polymerized petroleum resin, is versatile in its many uses. Ficcopale Resin is inert and heat stable, and its hydrocarbon structure assures the utmost in water and moisture resistance. PENNSYLVANIA INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION^,
Τ
Clairton, Penna.
MARCH
3 1. 1 9 5 8
C&EN
103
