Jubilee Exhibition at the Science Museum

Abstract

To mark the occasion of His Majesty's Silver Jubilee, a pictorial exhibit illustrating the more outstanding inventions and conspicuous developments of the past twenty-five years has been arranged at the Science Museum, South Kensington. This exhibition was opened to the public on May 1 and will remain on view during the whole of the month. The main advances in the pure sciences, astronomy, mathematics, physics, chemistry, meteorology and geophysics are illustrated, together with their more important applications; for example, photographs are shown of the planet Pluto (which was discovered in 1930), modern methods of upper air investigations, radio-gramophones, ‘talking pictures' equipment, infra-red photography and modern methods of prospecting. Of special interest is the series of photographs showing the rapid advances which have recently been made in our knowledge of the constitution of the atom, and the structure of the atomic nucleus. Progress of chemical industry is shown to include many important developments such as the low-temperature carbonisation of coal, the manufacture of insulin, artificial silk and plastic products; while in the case of glass manufacture, reference is made to the improvements resulting from the introduction of machine processes and the influence on the glass industry of the widespread use of the motor-car. Among other subjects represented may be mentioned the development of aircraft, ships, locomotives, motor-vehicles, steam turbines, oil and marine engines, while the advances in electrical power and communication are illustrated by modern electric power stations, automatic telephones, radio-communication and television.