A LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

Dear Time-Reader

In the May 19 issue of TIME our Science Editor wrote a two-column story about a new ultrasonic gadget which could generate "silent" sounds powerful enough to set paper afire, audible sounds loud enough to paralyze strong men. It set up a chain reaction among our readers that is still snapping and crackling around these offices.

The story came to the Science Editor's attention via advance tear sheets of a new monthly technical magazine called Audio Engineering. Carefully checked with its author, Inventor S. (for Sidney) Young White, the story described the gadget, told what it could do, and suggested some aspects of its possible ultrasonic future--such as killing bacteria, breaking up suspensions of solid particles, precipitating smoke and dust, etc.

The morning after TIME hit the newsstands the Science Department's telephone got busy with readers wanting to know more about the ultrasonic siren and its inventor. The Public Library called to say that they were getting inquiries for Audio Engineering but couldn't locate it on any of their lists. The president of Ultrasonic Corp. turned up in person to get more information direct from us. He had read the story on the night train from Boston and had stopped by our office on arrival,

In the next few weeks this initial reaction grew to startling proportions for Inventor White, Audio Engineering and TIME. The radio and sound recording fields were heard from almost en masse. Atomic scientists conveyed their interest, as did numerous industrialists, colleges and universities, foreign scientists, etc. Some wanted to know how to manufacture the ultrasonic siren; others asked whether it could be devoted to such uses as sterilizing insect eggs in flour, the homogenization of chocolate for hand-dipped candies. An invalid wondered whether the instrument would pulverize his kidney stones without damaging him. The Long Island Duck Farmers Association thought it would be ideal for defeathering ducks. Some others who have been heard from to date:

Dr. Lee de Forest, of American Television Inc., wrote in to ask whether Inventor White had applied his siren to remedying afflictions like tinnitis (ringing in the ears), which has plagued the "father of radio" for years.

Consolidated Paper Corp., of Montreal, Canada, asked if the siren could be used to combat bacteria in paper stock and water.

Aluminum Ore Co., of Mobile, Ala., invited White to experiment at its plant in breaking down suspensions of solids, etc.; Aluminum Laboratories, Ltd., of Kingston, Ontario, desired complete data on the instrument's application to metallurgy.

R. R. Donnelley & Sons Co., TIME Inc.'s Chicago printers, wanted to know if it would be possible to "set ink on paper by molecular vibration through a sound medium."

The Naval Medical Research Institute asked for detailed information for its research into "the biological effects of intense sound fields and other vibrations."

Brewers, dentists, laundries and jewel graders have also made inquiries. A hospital hopes that the siren can be made to sterilize the air in its infants' nursery. General Mills would like to know whether it will coagulate the dust that plagues the packaging of its dry cereals. Cincinnati is ready for an immediate.demonstration of the power of ultrasonics to lay the smoke and dust for which that city is renowned.

All in all, our Science Editor is very happy over this fresh evidence of the readership his department has, and Inventor White, one of the few independent U.S. research scientists, is convinced by the quality of the inquiries he has received that he has made an original, useful contribution to science.

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