Neon Tubes Glow With Strange Light in Cruft Laboratory Experiments--Naval Men Study Signalling and Foghorns

A neon-tube burst into a vivid red glow, waves started to move from one end of the tube to the other, then to stand still, then to reverse their motion, and then to move towards both ends of the tube, seemingly being formed at the middle. A representative of the CRIMSON was witnessing a demonstration of research apparatus of Harris Fahnestock 1G at the Cruft Laboratory of the Engineering School.

Fahnestock, who by a recent gift enabled the Laboratory to be provided with new and valuable equipment for high power vacuum-tube research, was testing the power of a newly devised amplifier, and in the course of his experiments discovered the phenomenon described above.

"Danger! High Voltage!" appeared before the reporter. When the door on which is this sign was thrown open an immense storage battery producing a potential of 10,000 volts used in X-ray research was revealed. This battery is the largest in the world.

P. S. Bauer, a graduate student in the engineering school, next showed to the reporter a pulse-rate recorder which he has devised for use in the Business School Fatigue Laboratories and in similar institutions. The small amount of current produced by each beat of the heart is picked up by two electrodes fastened to the patient's chest. The electric impulse is transmitted to an amplifier, which enables a buzzer or a tape recorder to be used in connection with the apparatus.

Professor G. W. Pierce, who was recently awarded a medal by the Radio Institute for general outstanding achievement in radio communication which is to be presented at Washington during the month of May, has under way an experimental and theoretical investigation of signalling by sound. This work is being done in connection with the determination of the efficiency of fog horns, and in reference to the transmission of sounds under water. Such is the importance of this work that eight officers of the U. S. Navy are at present stationed at the Cruft Laboratory to study communication engineering.