Progress

Inventions, discoveries, innovations reported during the past seven days, included:

Radio "Separator." In Berwyn, Chicago suburb, radio engineers crowded around L. William Skala, young graduate of the University of Prague, to observe his demonstration of a device for separating two radio messages sent simultaneously by different transmitters set at the same frequency. A wave-metre showed that the transmitters were on identical wave lengths. The "beat" note or interference whistle was heard in the receiver before the test. Then Skala attached one of his devices to each transmitter and one to the receiver. With a switch at the receiving end he was able to "cut out" either transmitter at will, bringing the other one in clearly without interference. He would not divulge details, but indicated that he had mathematically discovered "a simple new combination of capacity and inductance that functions through properties of the wireless wave other than amplitude and harmonics." It was his belief that the number of portions into which a given wavelength could be split is indefinite.

The Significance: the radio-wave spectrum being definitely limited, many stations are now forced to use the same wavelengths, going on the air at different hours by agreement. There was a hopeful stir when John Hays Hammond Jr. proved the possibility of sending many messages on a single "carrier" wave upon which modulations were impressed (TIME, Oct. 26). Skala's invention promises to simplify air-traffic even further, to solve the selectivity problem of listeners-in, to open the field of wireless telephony as a substitute for common wire service.

Mosquito Bane. At Atlantic City, N. J., Dr. William Rudolphs of Rutgers told the 13th annual convention of the New Jersey Mosquito Extermination Association that, after four years' study, hs had found he was safe for two or three hours from the itch-producing proboscides of mosquitoes, no matter how ravenous, after smearing on his epidermis: 14 units of ordinary insect-powder extract and 96 units of vaseline, cold cream or face-powder.

Berg Burning. At Montreal, Dr. Howard T. Barnes, Physics Professor at McGill University, announced an expedition in June to Greenland to experiment with heat mines on icebergs. After 30 years of ice research, he has concocted a chemical he calls "thermit," nonexplosive, non-inflammable, rendered dangerous only by contact with ice, when it develops intense heat in a few seconds. The plan is to apply "thermit" to Greenland's west coast glaciers, "burn them up" before they break off in the huge chunks so dangerous to Atlantic shipping. Floating bergs will also be attacked, the scientists rowing alongside, planting a heat mine with time fuse, rowing away to observe results.

Thought Waves. In Leningrad, Professor Vladimir Behterev, of the Leningrad Academy of Science, claimed great advances in the detection of electro-magnetic waves from the human body. "Thought waves," i. e., ether waves broadcast by the cerebral nerve centres, were alleged to have been received with sensitive apparatus in 70% of the experiments made. Men were said to be better receivers of transmitted thoughts than women. "The more accomplished a man is, the better he transmits and the worse he receives." It was not reported how the thought waves, when detected, were translated from meaningless physical effects into intelligible human ideas. U. S. scientists were skeptical.

Kites. In Manhattan, Dr. Miller Reese Hutchison, for 16 years chief engineer of Thomas Alva Edison, suggested that all steamships carry kites for rescue work in seas too heavy for lifeboats and Lyle (rope-shooting) guns. The kite could be flown over the distressed ship, line, rope and finally a heavy cable being attached to its string. The cable would drag in the water, be towed to its destination. Then the breeches buoy could be used.

Wanted. Last week, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals announced a prize of $1,000 for the inventor of a durable, comfortable, dependable, non-slipping winter and wet-weather shoe for horses. The Society had examined, discarded 600 models.