Heroes of Science

HEROES OF SCIENCE By Dr. F. S. Harris and N. I. Butt, OF THE BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY 4. Welsbach The whole world marveled when King Alfred of England de- vised his lanthorn by placing thin strips of horn about his candles so the wind would not make the light flicker. But at night his palace was so dark and gloomy that even the most poorly lighted houses of today would seem bright and cheery in comparison, Had one of the wonderful incandescent lights devised by Welsbach been placed in King Alfred's palace it would have been difficult to tell that there were any candles present. We are accustomed to speak of the ordinary electric light as the best device for artificial lighting, but under many conditions the incandescent gas light gives more illumination in proportion to the money spent. The gas light, especially the types using the smaller gasoline and other generators, are making country homes as well lighted as those in the city. Defective vision caused by reading and sewing in poorly lighted houses is becoming rare. That light could be produced by gas was known for several centuries, but the light was very unsatisfactory and expensive until Welsbach discovered the incandescent mantle about forty years ago. For many years following this discovery gas furnished by far the best ordinary light. The old type of carbon electric lights were several times less efficient than the gas mantle and when improvements came in the electric light it was through investigations started by Welsbach. There was no thought in the mind of Welsbach of producing a gas mantle when he began the experiments which led up to it. He was one of the pure scientists who work to discover facts rather than practical ways for using them. Born in Germany, in 1858, he passed through school and by the time he finished college he had been inspired by the influence of the great scientist Bunsen, to seek his fortune as a research worker. At this time Bunsen was investigating the newly discovered method of analyzing substances by heating them in the flame of his burner. Naturally Welsbach, his pupil, became inter- ested in this investigation and after his graduation he began to test the properties of many elements not previously analyzed in this way. In 1885 he discovered two new chemical substances through this type of investigation. The ordinary method for studying chemicals by means of the flame is to dip a platinum wire into the solution of the chemical and then place it in the flame. Welsbach thought, because he could

HEROES OF SCIENCE 1143 i thus get more of the solution in the flame, perhaps he could secure better results by dipping a piece of cotton in the solution and burning this as well as the chemical. When he tried this method he was sur- prised to find that after the cotton was burned the rare earths he was working with did not crumble to pieces but held the shape they were in when soaked into the cotton. The flame caused the earths to produce a brilliant white glow. The trouble with gas lights before this time was that the energy was wasted in blue heat flames rather than giving light. Welsbach immediately saw that if the heat energy could be utilized to make these rare earths white hot a beautiful white light would be produced. Following this decision Welsbach commenced an earnest search to discover the best rare earths to be used. The one he first decided upon as best proved very unsatisfactory, because the light given out was not so good as might be expected, and a slight jar would shake it to pieces. The following year, 1886, a still more thorough search was made and thoria, the substance now used in mantles, proved most satisfactory so far as durability and the ability to hold together when fired is concerned. Thoria, however, does not give a large amount of light when pure, and another long search was necessary before it was discovered that a small amount of another rare earth, ceria, brings out the bril- liance which pure thoria lacks. Further experiments were necessary in order to discover how to make the mantles burn to the proper shape. So thorough were the tests made by Welsbach in perfecting the gas mantle that despite hundreds of attempts to improve its quality by using different proportions of the two ingredients used by the in- ventor, or to use other minerals, no other mantle has succeeded. Artificial silk and a frabric called ramia were found better than cotton for absorbing the earthy material and some other improvements in the lasting quality have been made, but the proportion of the earthy materials remains the same. While the discovery of the mantle brought wealth and fame to Welsbach, it did not destroy his love for research. The carbon electric lights in use at that time gave only a wasteful reddish glow. He decided to try to make incandescent globes which would give efficient white light. Again experimenting with the rare earths, in 1898, he discovered that osmium successfully conducted the electricity, and when heated gave a satisfactory light. There were, however, certain defects in the osmium filaments which made it unsatisfactory. Un- daunted Welsbach continued to experiment until 1903, when he, and other investigators working along the same line, discovered the value of tungsten, the filament now used in , our most efficient ordinary electric globes. The tungsten filaments of today furnishes light at about one third the cost of that produced from those made of carbon. Even after Welsbach had made these discoveries, he went back to his laboratories to carry on further research. In 1907 he dis-

1144 IMPROVEMENT ERA covered an element which had never been known before. Feeling that he was indebted to science for the wealth that had come to him, he spent a large sum to build an experiment station where other investi- gators might discover knowledge useful to mankind. Provo, Utah. Our Martyrs Every town and city has them, Many families, too, I find — Men and women, worn and broken Both in body and in mind. Carry other people's burdens, Worrying over others' woes. Hurt by unjust crticisms; What they suffer no one knows. Oh, that all would do their duty, And that each would bear his share; None would then be overloaded, None would be burdened down with care. But be patient, oh, ye weary, Struggle on, nor cease to pray. If you carry others' burdens, You will surely draw the pay. Shelley, Idaho JOSEPH H. DEAN. God Bless the Youth of Zion God bless the youth of Zion, day by day, Let not their footsteps wander from virtue's way; But true and faithful may they stand A blessing to their glorious land, Thy precepts may they understand, (jod bless the youth of Zion. Their fathers' faith was mighty, firm and brave They faced the dreary deserts the youth to save From Babylon's clouded mind, For them a sanctuary to find, For them they left their all behind; God bless the youth of Zion. Within thy love and favor, may their light Illuminate the darkness, pure and bright, Their deeds shine out before thee, Lord, O may they all with one accord Defend and keep thy Holy Word; God bless the youth of Zion. Ruth May Fox.