olecular relations which records itself to our
senses as a condition of gaseousness, liquidity, or solidity; hence it
would be rash to predict just what inter-molecular relations may not
become possible when the heat-vibration is altogether in abeyance. That
certain other forms of activity may be able to assert themselves in
unwonted measure seems clearly forecast in the phenomena of increased
magnetism, and of phosphorescence at low temperatures above outlined.
Whether still more novel phenomena may put in an appearance at the
absolute zero, and if so, what may be their nature, are questions that
must await the verdict of experiment. But the possibility that this may
occur, together with the utter novelty of the entire subject, gives
the low-temperature work precedence over almost every other subject
now before the world for investigation (possible exceptions being
radio-activity and bacteriology). The quest of the geographical pole is
but a child's pursuit compared with the quest of the absolute zero. In
vital interest the one falls as far short of the other as the cold of
frozen water falls short of the cold of frozen air.

Where, when, and by whom the absolute zero will be first reached are
questions that may be answered from the most unexpected quarter. But it
is interesting to know that great preparations are being made today in
the laboratories of the Royal Institution for a further attack upon the
problem. Already the research equipment there is the best in the world
in this field, and recently this has been completely overhauled and
still further perfected. It would not be strange, then, in view of past
triumphs, if the final goal of the low-temperature workers should be
first reached in the same laboratory where the outer territories of
the unknown land were first penetrated three-quarters of a century ago.
There would seem to be a poetic fitness in the trend of events should it
so transpire. But of course poetic fitness does not always rule in the
land of science.

IV. SOME PHYSICAL LABORATORIES AND PHYSICAL PROBLEMS

SIR NORMAN LOCKYER AND SOLAR CHEMISTRY

SIR NORMAN LOCKYER is professor of astronomical physics and director
of the solar observatory at the Royal College of Science in South
Kensington. Here it is that his chief work has been done for some thirty
years past. The foundation-stone of that work is spectroscopic study of
the sun and stars. In this study Professor Lockyer was a pioneer, a