Project Gutenberg 2017-09-25 Public domain in the USA. 214 Williams, W. Mattieu (William Mattieu) 1820 1892 Williams, William Mattieu Science in Short Chapters The fuel of the sun -- Dr. Siemens' theory of the sun -- Another world down here -- The origin of lunar volcanoes -- Note on the direct effect of sun-spots on terrestrial climates -- The philosophy of the radiometer and its cosmical revelations -- On the social benefits of paraffin -- The solidity of the earth -- A contribution to the history of electric lighting -- The formation of coal -- The solar eclipse of 1871 -- Meteoric astronomy -- The "great ice age" and the origin of the "till" -- The barometer and the weather -- The chemistry of bog reclamation -- Aerial exploration of the arctic regions -- The limits of our coal supply -- "The Englishman's fireside" -- "Baily's beads" -- The coloring of green tea -- "Iron filings" in tea -- Concert-room acoustics -- Science and spiritualism -- Mathematical fictions -- World-smashing -- The dying trees in Kensington Gardens -- The oleaginous products of Thames mud: where they come from and where they go -- Luminous paint -- The origin and probable duration of petroleum -- The origin of soap -- Oiling the waves -- On the so-called "crater necks" and "volcanic bombs" of Ireland -- Travertine -- The action of frost in water-pipes and on building materials -- The corrosion of building stones -- Fire-clay and anthracite -- Count Rumford's cooking-stoves -- The "consumption of smoke" -- The air of stove-heated rooms -- Ventilation by open fireplaces -- Domestic ventilation -- Home gardens for smoky towns -- Solids, liquids, and gases -- Murchison and Babbage -- Atmosphere versus ether -- A neglected disinfectant -- Another disinfectant -- Ensilage -- The fracture of comets -- The origin of comets. Produced by Chris Curnow, Charlie Howard, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) "Science in Short Chapters" by W. Mattieu Williams is a collection of essays on scientific topics written in the late 19th century. The book aims to engage general readers who are interested in practical science but may lack the time or inclination for more formal studies. The author presents his reflections on a variety of subjects, from solar phenomena to the origins of coal, all while striving for clarity and simplicity in his explanations. The opening of the book introduces the first essay, "The Fuel of the Sun," which presents a preliminary argument regarding the nature of the Earth's atmosphere and its implications for understanding solar energy. Williams critiques established theories about atmospheric limits, specifically addressing Dr. Wollaston’s finite atmosphere concept. Through his examination, the author asserts that the atmosphere is likely infinite in extent and suggests that this could radically change our understanding of solar heat and light. The chapter sets the stage for the author's broader exploration of scientific topics throughout the collection, inviting readers to reconsider long-held beliefs in light of new evidence and reasoning. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 50.6 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read. en Science Q Text Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches Category: Science - Physics 949471 2025-06-22T08:44:43.213796 text/html 928887 2024-10-23T02:41:20 text/html 917926 2025-06-22T08:44:56.238701 application/epub+zip 915056 2025-06-22T08:44:45.324775 application/epub+zip 483380 2025-06-22T08:44:44.225835 application/epub+zip 1118844 2025-06-22T08:45:04.596710 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 1044272 2025-06-22T08:44:55.139738 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 616617 2022-08-25T06:24:09.457290 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 890622 2025-06-22T08:44:41.956882 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 870668 2024-10-23T02:41:20 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 17684 2025-06-22T08:45:04.763645 application/rdf+xml 15649 2025-06-22T08:44:44.361777 image/jpeg 2079 2025-06-22T08:44:44.292764 image/jpeg 773822 2025-06-22T08:44:43.304769 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia