Show expedition will study life in ocean depths scientists to go down half a mile for observation washington continuation next summer of the u unique deep sea investigations of dr william beebe under a grant of funds by the national geographic society of washington has been announced by dr gilbert grosvenor president of the society doctor beebe who Is director of the department part ment of scientific research of the new york tork zoological society and a noted oceanographic naturalist has haa developed during the last jew few years an entirely new method of undersea investigation vesti gation which permits men to descend safely to depths which hitherto could not be reached use two ton diving ball accompanied by an assistant doctor beebe plans to descend to a depth of nearly halt a mile below the surface of the sea inside the heavy steel ball the bathysphere in which he has previously made the record descent for a living man 2200 feet the unique diving ball la Is familiar to millions of americans americana who saw it last summer and fall when it was on exhibit in the central room of the hall of science at the century of progress exposition in ID chicago it Is a phlek shelled sphere four and a half balf feet in diameter and weighing two tons it has haa windows of fused quartz fashioned to withstand the many tons of pressure to which it Is subjected by the sea water through the windows beams of light are sent out into the water and the strange creatures of the ocean depths are observed A steel cable lowers the sphere from a barge at the surface and rub ber enclosed wires afford telephone communication and electric light no air tubes to surface furnishing air from the surface to the great depths rea readied clied by the bathysphere Is impracticable the observers are sealed into the ball and an auto automatic valve steadily releases a supply of oxygen chemicals exposed in racks absorb moisture and carbon dioxide at the end of the dive the observers are living in an atmosphere of slightly compressed air during doctor beabes descents in 1030 1930 and 1032 a number of forms of sea life not known before were discovered many blany ot of the tha strange crea tures ture were found to possess glowing and flashing light organs which help them in their battled battle for life in the depths to which n no sunlight ever pe penetrates e doctor beebe expects to add many new discoveries this year and anith the aid of additional new apparatus it Is hoped to prolong the dives to five hours in order that detailed observations can be made on the wholly unknown activities and hat habits ailts of deep sea bea creatures As to the bill alef for pushing farther into the sea depths lie he has written next to going to mars liars there seems nothing more exciting and unpredictable in the past the deep sea diving investigations have been carried on from laboratories made available by the british government on tiny nonsuch island of the bermudas this islet has recently been set aside for a go gov govi i school but this development will not in any way hamper the new expedition it will make its headquarters on the mainland near nonsuch at doctor beabes new perfectly equipped laboratory near the bermuda biological station and will carry on its underwater investigations in the same area used in past years the work will start early in july |