Show sun power problem to be studied by scientists of al 1 I T CAMBRIDGE MASS me methods ghods of creating sun power by converting the tremendous amount of solar energy into some form in which man can use it as a source of power will be the goal of a comprehensive program of chemical electrical and mechanical research tp be undertaken at the massachusetts chu institute of technology Fria enabled bled by a gift from rom dr godfrey L cabot of boston the research will be devoted specifically to a search for direct means of converting the suns radiant energy into useful power or storing such energy for future use under the terms of the gift the income from the fund must be used in these studies for at least 50 years after which it may be diver diverted ted to other purposes at the discretion of the institutes corporation while scientists at technology will concentrate on direct physical and chemical methods of using solar energy research workers at harvard university which received a similar grant from dr cabot last year are making a pioneering study of the possibilities of speeding up the growth of trees and thus streamlining the conversion of 0 sunlight into forms suitable tor for human use great potential power in announcing the gift dr karl T compton M 1 T president commented on the enormous potential power of solar energy pointing out that heat from the sun reaches the earth in the temperate zones at an average rate of approximately calories per square yard dally daily in the three months of greatest sunshine an acre of land he estimated receives directly from the sun an amount of heat equivalent to that which would be produced by the burning of about tons of first class clasa coal the store of energy in our familiar fuels while great is not inexhaustible haus tible he continued in pointing out the importance of such research A primary object of the project will be to determine whether use of solar energy enedy Is economically economical ly feasible and practical solar energy devices v already proposed and studied elsewhere will be evaluated with this point of view in mind the second aspect will consider chiefly the feasibility lity of developing new conversion equipment using phenomena now under study w which aich hold promise of ultimately being useful in the solution of this problem |