California Institute of Technology Cal Tech - Big T Yearbook (Pasadena, CA)

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RESEARCH Dr. Ramome Dr. Martel! E. L. Furlong Also, under the direction of DR. JOHN A. ANDERSON, parts of the mounting for the ZOO-inch mirror have been made in the astro-physics machine shop. A new process has been devised in which aluminum replaces silver as the coating for the large mirrors, with greatly improved reflecting effi- ciency. CIVIL ENGINEERS THE civil engineers, under the di- rection of FRANKLIN THOMAS, have carried on much vety valuable re- search during the past year. Espe- cially timely has been the work done on earthquake-proof structures. DR. ROMEO R. MARTELL, working in co- operation with the geology depart- 28 Dr. Ramome 2': an economic geolo- gixt and E. L. Furlong 2'5 cumtor 0f paleontology. ment, has studied the motion of earthquakes and their effects on vari- ous structures. Methods of construc- tion have been devised to render buildings less susceptible to earth movements. GEOLOGY IN GEOLOGY, work has been done on

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GAN and ALFRED H. STURTEVANT. They have been assisted in the lab- oratory by two Carnegie Founda- tion scholars, DOCTORS BRIDGES and SCHULTZ. Also in the field of genetics, corn has been used as the experimental subject by DR. ERNEST G. ANDERSON, most of the work being done on a farm at Arcadia. DOCTORS MORGAN and ALBERT TYLER have carried on considerable work in embryology at the Institute marine station, with the lower forms of marine animals. Energy relationships of chemical changes in organisms have been the subject of investigation of DR. HENRY BORSOOK in the field of bio- chemistry. DR. ROBERT EMERSON, in bio-physics, has been studying the reactions of photosynthesisesunlight on green plants. A kindred subject has been chosen by DR. FRITS WENT, in the method of growth of plants. WILLIAM BERGREN, tall leader of the orchestra, worked hrst this year with anaesthetics, later with vitamins and with oxidation-reduction systems. ASTRO-PHYSICS WORK in the department of astro- physics has centered around the con- struction of the 200-inch telescope. Machinery has been built to grind the 120-inch mirror, recently received from the East. This is to be ground to a perfectly plane surface and sil- vered for use in testing the larger mirror When it has been ground to the proper parabolic form. 27 RESEARCH Dr. Franklin Thoma; William Bergren

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various Mexican copper ores by MR. VINCENT KELLEY, and a study of former gold-producing territory by MR. MAURICE DONNELLY. DR. RENE ENGEL and MR. BEN HOLZMAN have carried on tests as to the radioactive properties of local waters and common rocks. AERONAUTICS THE aeronautics department has been featured by the work of four men: DR. T HEODOR VON KARMAN, in general charge; DR. A. L. KLEIN, director of wind-tunnel research; DR. CLARK MILLIKAN, mathematics wizard; and MR. IRVING P. KICK, meteorologist. Streamlining of ultra- modern automobiles and airships, and new weather forecasting systems have been the main subjects of re- search. HYDRAULICS DR. VON KARMAN has shifted to the held of hydraulics to assist ROBERT T. KNAPP and ROBERT L. DAUGH- ERTY in pump tests being made for the Metropolitan Water District. VITO VANONI and PROFESSOR KNAPP have done much practical work on a large working model of Alamitos Bay, in connection With silt problems. Working with the United States Department of Agriculture, they have designed and tested run-off Eumes for reforestation work. FRANK HOLMES has been distin- guished during the past year because of his invention of a rotary air com- pressor and motor Which has many advantages over the usual reciprocat- ing piston type. 29 RESEARCH Frank B. Holme; Vito Vamom' and Dr. Knapp Dr. Knapp, Df. Daugherty, R. M. Peabody, Dr. Von Kmmmz