They're Having A Wonderful Igy

Nature could hardly have been more co-operative during the present 18-months IGY period which commenced last July.

So far almost every phase of nature has co-operated with the scientists. • There has been intense “sunspot” activity, with accompanying brilliant auroral displays and magnetic and radio disturbances. For the first time for many years some of the auroral displays have been seen even as far north as the tropics. • There have been vigorous hurricanes, some following unusual tracks, in season and out of season. One, in the Marshall Islands area, sent huge, damaging ocean swells to points as far away as the Cook Islands and Tahiti. • Conveniently accessible volcanoes have obligingly erupted so that they might be studied: and severe earthquakes have occurred in several parts of the world. • Oceanographic research vessels, groping in the oceans’ greatest deeps, have brought up all sorts of interesting specimens—like the enormous sharks’ teeth brought up by Witjaz in Micronesian waters. • H-bombs, unwittingly, have contributed to the knowledge of Pacific ocean currents. Even artificial satellites, sometimes reluctantly, have taken to outer space.

All that s wanted now is co-operation in the form of fine weather and clear skies for a few minutes next October for the observation of the total eclipse of the sun in Polynesia.