will greatly reduce the cost of white lead, which is the basis of all paints. The interior of our homes has been made pleasant and cheery by the glossy, pleasing presence of what we call coating or impregnating materials to insure durability. Some of these are varnish, shellac, lacquer, enamel, stain, and wax. A late achievement of the research chemist of this phase is Duco and Bakelite liquid products. The plumbing and toilet fixtures are likewise the chemist's handiwork. I n fact, almost everything which pertains to the actual building of our home is made or personally supervised by the chemist. With only a hasty glance at a few of the factors which appertain to the essentials of the home, one can see that the science of chemistry has exerted a great influence. This influence will continue to be felt with research chemists all over the world making new discoveries. It is certain that in the past the relation of chemistry to the home has been incalculably beneficial. Thus civilization owes a debt of great magnitude to the chemist. Nothing is more reaching in effect or more beneficial to the homes of mankind than chemistry. Bibliography "Creative Chemktry," Sloson, The Century Co.. 1919. "Chemistrv in Modern Life," Arrhenius, D. Van Nostrand Co.. Inc.. 1925. "The Romance of Chemistry," Foster, The Century Co., 1927. "Chemistry in the World's Work," Howe, D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc.. 1926. "Chemistry and Civilization," Cuskman, R. G. Badger Co., 1920.
Horizontal Rainbows Due to Fine Water Droplets. Rainbows in the sky are familiar t o everybody, but if you are fortunate enough, you may sometime he able t o see a horizontal rainbow on a calm surface of water. You are most likely t o see it following a fog, and if you are particularly fortunate, you may even see a cluster of several horizontal rainbows. In a recent issue of the Journal of the Fmnklin Institute, Dr. W . J. Humphreys, professor of meteorological physics a t the U. S. Westher Bureau a t Washington, describes the formation of these strange phenomena, and tells of two people who have seen them in clusters. The how seems to he right on the surface of the water, and in the case of the cluster, one appears right behind another. The cause, says Dr. Humphreys, is a layer of tiny droplets of water, resting on the surface of the body of water, but prevented from merging ~.into it hy a thin film of oil on the surface. The s m is in hack of the ol,wrwr, m d the rays of light arc rtlr3crcd b x k to thr eye by the tmy droplvtsof r a t c r un the surinrc. lust as they are hy the drops of water in the sky in the case of the usual tainbow. If the sun is overhead, the horizontal how appears as a circle. If lower, it is s n ellipse, surrounding the observer. If at an angle of 42 degrees above the horizon, it is a parabola, while a t a lower angle of sun i t is a hyperbola. All of these curves are what the mathematician calls "conic sections," that is, the curves formed by the intersection of a plane with a cone. The cluster of several bows is formed hy reflections from the actual surface of the water, as the Sheet of droplets may not be quite in contact with the water surface.Science Seruice
