100 YEARS AGO

After a visit to Egypt in 1894, Miss Benson tells us she first entertained the idea of undertaking some excavation, and in the following year she obtained permission to clear away some of the earth that still covered the ruins of the temple of Mut. For three seasons Miss Benson and her friend, Miss Gourlay, have occupied themselves in removing débris and, though they have made no very startling discoveries, they have succeeded in correcting Mariette's plan of the temple in several details ⃛. It will be seen, therefore, that Miss Benson and Miss Gourlay have had some reward for their three seasons' work; and, although surface-excavation at Karnak is not a very arduous or difficult undertaking, it is not unreasonable that they should be proud of having obtained the first permission to excavate given to women in Egypt. Whether their example will be followed by other ladies remains to be seen, though we think on the whole such work is perhaps better left to the male professional digger, who can camp on the spot, and having knowledge of Arabic is naturally better able to control his men, and check to some extent the thefts of the smaller antiquities.

From Nature6 April 1899.

50 YEARS AGO

A new 16-mm. sound and colour film, “The Nature of Plastics”, which has been sponsored by Bakelite, Ltd., was shown for the first time at the British Council Theatre in London on April 5. The film, which runs for about 20 minutes, is a scientific documentary and is designed to explain to the intelligent layman the broad principles of the structural characteristics of plastics and their associated physical properties. The molecular chain structure is particularly emphasized and is illustrated by large-scale molecular models. Then, with the aid of mechanical analogies, the packing of the chains is related to the physical properties, tight-, medium- and loose-packing corresponding to fibres, heat-softening plastics and rubbers respectively. In the case of the rubber structures, the chains can be locked by means of cross-connecting atoms, and this produces a heat- and chemical-resistant material which is called a heat-hardening or thermosetting plastic.

From Nature9 April 1949.