50, 100 and 150 Years Ago; October 2003; Scientific American Magazine; by Staff Editor; 1 Page(s)

GREENS FOR DINNER-"Many scientists all over the world are interested in the food possibilities of the water plants called algae. On the basis of laboratory experiments it is estimated that each acre given to cultivation of Chlorella could produce an annual yield of 20 tons of protein and three tons of fat per acre-astronomical figures compared with present rates of production in conventional agriculture. Whether algae can be an important contribution to the world food supply will depend on the cost and the yield of large-scale culture. The production of each ton of algal protein requires about 1.1 tons of potassium nitrate and .75 ton of ammonium sulfate."

LANGLEY'S FAILURE-"Those who have the interests of aerial navigation at heart will regret the failure of Prof. Samuel Pierpont Langley's last experiment, not so much because the aerodrome refused to fly, but because of the adverse newspaper comment which the trial has prompted. This aerodrome of his is the result of years of arduous study and ceaseless experimentation. That it should have failed is to be regarded simply as one step in the solution of the problem of aerial navigation, and not altogether as an abject failure. On the report of Prof. C. M. Manly, it appears the clutch which held the aerodrome on the launching ways [see illustration] and which should have released at the instant of the fall, was found to be injured." [Editors' note: The failure of this test and the one on December 8, 1903, led to such scathing public criticism that Langley gave up aviation research.]