British Colonial Geological Surveysdoi: 10.1038/163817a0pmid: N/A
PLANNED co-operation in the development of backward areas may well serve modern needs better than unrestricted and often wasteful competition ; and this applies particularly in connexion with the mineral development of vast, virtually unexplored regions. such as are presented by the continent of Africa .The recent proposal to supplement various Colonial Surveys, particularly in Africa, by American geologists, therefore, deserves careful consideration. In commercial work there has at times been considerable collaboration between geologists of all English-speaking countries, as evidenced during the copper development period in Northern Rhodesia, when millions of subscribed capital were spent on exploration by the companies concerned. The results that they obtained were not, however, generally made public ; there is no published map of the special areas which were explored in that large territory.
The Genius of Industrial ResearchBRIGHTMAN, R.
doi: 10.1038/163818a0pmid: N/A
IN the ever growing literature dealing with industrial research ,Comparatively little attention has been given to the mental characteristics needed for research work and whether the training given at universities and technical colleges tends to develop adequately these qualities. In "Glances at Industrial Research", E.R. Weidlein and W. A. Hamor look beyond the of the wallss of the Mellon Institute to the broader professional aspects of industrial research. These problems are briefly considered by Dr. D. W. Hill in "Co-operative Industrial Research" ; but were virtually ignored by Sir Frank Heath and A. L. Hetherington in "Industrial Research and Development". A more adequate discussion is to be found in "The Future of Industrial Research", issued four years ago by the Standard Oil Development Co. ; but apart from highly suggestive passages in Col. L. E. Simon's "German Research in World War II", it is to the scientific and technical periodicals that we must look for the more penetrating discussions of the qualities required in industrial research and the methods by which they are best fostered. Some of the post-war reports, like Dr. Vannevar Bush's "Science-the Endless Frontier" and that of the Barlow Committee on Scientific Staff, or statements from Nuffield College, have made some contribution ; but by and large the most useful and fundamental contributions are widely scattered and probably not easily assembled.
Institut International de Chimie Solvay : Rapports et discussions sur les isotopesP., F. A.
doi: 10.1038/163819a0pmid: N/A
THE first Chemical Congress of the Solvay Institute took place in Brussels in 1922 ; ensuing Congresses were held at regular intervals of three year until 1937. At each of them, men of science from various countries presented authoritative reviews on topical subjects, and the printed reports of these meetings are still a valuable source of information. It was, therefore, very welcome news when it became known that, after the war-time interruption, the Seventh Chemical Solvay Congress would be arranged in Brussels in the autumn of 1947, under the chairmanship of Prof. P. Karrer (Zurich). Its subject was "Les Isotopes".
A Geographical Handbook of the Dorset FloraSKENE, M.
doi: 10.1038/163820b0pmid: N/A
THE fact of distribution of the flowering plants of Britain are to be found in a long series of county floras which we owe to the flair and enthusiasm of the amateur field botanist. These facts have been the material for wider speculation on and more detailed study of the factors determining the origin and controlling the distribution of the flora. The names of Forbes, Watson, Stapf, Matthews and Salisbury may remind us of the interest of such contributions. Prof. R. Good's book is unique in combining the facts of the typical county flora with a consideration of general and special problems of distribution.
Rockets and SpaceRANKIN, R. A.
doi: 10.1038/163820a0pmid: N/A
SINCE the earliest times, man has dreamed of the possibility of leaving this planet to visit the heavenly bodies, and much has been written around this theme ranging from the satirical and fantastic to the serious and scientific. This book is an encyclo-pæedic survey in a readable and untechnical style of everty aspect of the subject.
Annual Review of BiochemistryGREVILLE, G. D.
doi: 10.1038/163821a0pmid: N/A
WHEN the "Annual Review of Biochemistry" first appeared in 1932 it was born almost at its present size for the first volume ,of 724 pages, was little smaller than the latest. Nourished by an increasing diet of publications, the "Review" might have grown alarmingly ; but, partly by feeding portions to the newer "Annual Reviews" of physiology and microbiology, the editors have successfully kept it down. The exuberance of biochemistry is such, however, that further procrustean treatment is necessary, and, in 1950, plant material will be removed into a new "Annual Review of Plant Physiology". The wisdom of this decision is perhaps confirmed by the article on plant hormones in the present volume, which contains quite a long section on the control of weeds.
X-Ray Opticsdoi: 10.1038/163822c0pmid: N/A
THIS work fully maintains the standard that is now expected from this well-known series. The author has set himself well-defined limits, has stated these clearly in the preface, and has treated the subject-matter within these limits in a workmanlike fashion. It is unfortunate, therefore, that the main title of the book is deceptive, and that it has to be qualified by a sub-title ; a book on X-ray optics should have image formation as its main content ; but this subject is not dealt with at all in this book. The author justifies this omission on the grounds that crystal-structure determination is closer to chemistry than to physics. The reviewer does not agree with this ; the results are certainly of chemical interest, but the methods are essentially physical.
Elsevier's Encyclopædia of Organic ChemistryCOOK, J. W.
doi: 10.1038/163822a0pmid: N/A
THIS is actually the first part of vol. 12B, for it deals only with hydrocarbons of the naphthalene series, their hydrides and the halogen compounds. The much larger number of other derivatives, together with compounds containing more than one naphthalene nucleus, will presumably form the subject of one or more further parts. Series 3 of the 'Encyclopaedia' will then be complete, for vols. 12A, 13 and 14 have already been issued (for a general description of the whole project, see Nature, 161, 415 ; 1948). The present volume maintains the standard of excellence of its predecessors ; but the rate of progress is behind schedule, and considerable acceleration will be needed if the work is to constitute an up-to-date compendium of organic chemical compounds.
Géométrie descriptive à quatre dimensionsGREEN, H. GWYNEDD
doi: 10.1038/163822b0pmid: N/A
THE reviewer approached this volume in a mood of reflexion as to the proper place in the general scheme of geometrical study for four-dimensional geometry .His own introduction to the concepts of geomentry of more than three dimensions was through the excellent volumes of M. Jonffert ("Traité ELémentaire de Géométrie à Quatre Dimensions",1903 ; "Mélanges de Géométrie à Quatre Dimensions",1907). Though interested, he felt an acute disappointment in the natural limitations therein, which was not overcome until, long after, Bertini's work came to his hands. He therefore read M. J. Maurin's volume with a prejudice that, for the geometer, the general n-dimensional case should be first studied and the four-dimensional enlarged upon later.
The Way of a Plant in Field and GardenH., T. H.
doi: 10.1038/163822d0pmid: N/A
MR. GARETH BROWNING, author of several works of popular natural history, has written another little book which seeks to explain the functions of the flowering plant in such a way that it will be scientifically correct and also intelligible to the general reader. From both points of view he has achieved his object, and his book will be of value to the non-specialist interested in agriculture, horticulture or the natural history of plants. Whether the book will appeal to them sufficiently to make them want to buy it is another matter. Authors of successful books on popular subjects to-day realize the value of visual appeal and, generally speaking, have set a high standard in the range and quality of the paintings, photographs and diagrams of the illustrations to their books. The seven coloured photographs and thirteen line-drawings in "The Way of a Plant" are not enough, neither are they of a high standard.