Science: Inventions of the Month

Announced:

¶ By the John B. Pierce Foundation (housing research): a system called “liquid heat” which combines in one unit all the heat and power needed for house heating, cooking, refrigeration and lighting. The system, regarded by engineers as one of the most exciting heating discoveries in years, uses, instead of water or steam, a chemical solution called tetra-cresyl silicate, which can be heated to 817° Fahrenheit. The Foundation hopefully believes that its concentrated, economical liquid heat may save 48% of the present cost of house utilities.

¶ By Tass, the Soviet news agency: an “everlasting” paint which its inventor, Russian Scientist Stepan Tumanov, says will resist the weather and keep its original fresh color for “thousands of years.” Tumanov first made his paints of crushed jewels (rubies, emeralds, etc.), then substituted a cheaper material, colored corundum, which seemed to work just as well. He says his paint has passed all chemical and heat tests with high marks, expects it to be widely used by artists—especially makers of porcelain and stained glass and decorators of monuments.

¶ By Norman Myer, Melbourne department-store owner: a folding crutch which can be converted into a chair when its user wants to stop and rest. Mr. Myer bought the rights from the Australian inventor in order to present the device royalty-free to United Nations’ war veterans.

¶ By the Air Technical Service Command: an “anti-exposure” suit (made of nylon coated with a material that makes it water-and airtight) to keep a shipwrecked man warm—even in freezing water.

¶ By the Army Signal Corps: a sound recording system for sending spoken messages by carrier pigeon. The recording is on film, so thin that a 36,000-word message (two hours’ dictation) can be carried by one pigeon. The film is edible, so that it can be eaten by its receiver to prevent its capture by the enemy.

¶ By the A & P: an electronic food defroster, using dielectric heat, for quick thawing of frozen foods. It cuts thawing time from 20 hours to 15 minutes.

¶ By Eastman Kodak Co.: a 48-inch telephoto lens, the biggest Eastman has ever built, which can take clear pictures at ten miles.