T - Engineering & Science - California Institute of Technology

On the cover tills immth .H. 5. Richdrdson,
Research As~ociatc in Astiononij
at the Mount WiLon Oli~~natory, is adjusting
the miiiorsi on top ot Mount
Wilson's 60-foot sun tovier, in preparation
for solar ohsenatior~s. Out of
such experience Dr. Richardson has
written the article on s-unspots~certainly
one of the most provocative, if
not the most important solar studies-on
page 19 of thiii issue.
The Process of Change
Elting E. Morison's article on page
5, "A Caw Study of Innovation,"
was originally delivered as a lecture
at the Institute-for members of the
Athenaeum in March. Eveiyonc who
heard the talk then will, we are cer-
tain, be happy to have it in this rom
parathely permanent form. And those
who missed it will now hale an oppor-
tunity to disco\er what d stimulating
and prmocathe talk it was-and
article it is.
Professor Morison was graduated
fiom Harvard in 1932, and received
his M.S. there in 1937. During the
recent war he was Direct01 of the
Historical Section in the Office of the
Chief of ISa\al Operations, and, since
1946 he has been a conbuliant for the
Research and Development Boaid in
the Department uf Defense. Author of
4dqiral Sin1.s and the Modem Ameri-
run Nm), jiuhkhed in 1942, Profearor
Morison is now editing the Letters of
Theodore Roosmelt. The first two of
the projected eight lolume* of tlieie
letters should be off the pirs-i next
winter.
Mountain-Climber
In d \enhe. William &ijit~oiih's
article "The Ascent of Mt. Vancomer,"
COINTINUEU GIN PAGE 4
VOL. XIII CONTENTS FOR APRIL NO. 7
Books .
Iii This Issue .
A Case Study of Innovatio~i
A distinguished historian diwu~~e~ the introduction
of a single technological change in t h ~
United States Navy~and comes to some provocative
conclusions about the process of change
by Elting E. Morison
The Ascent of Mt. Vancouver
What it's like to climb the highest uiicliinbed
mountain in the North American continent
by William 23. Hainsworth '18
The Billion-Volt Synchrotron
Caltech's new electron accelerator will be the!
most powerful machine of its type ever built
Blame It On Sunspots
by Robert S. Richardson
The Month
Geologists on the Ground .
'4 report on Geology's regimented vacation
known as the Annual Spring Field Trip
The Beaver .
by Jim Heridrickson '50
Personals
ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE MONTHLY
Published at the California Institute of Techcnology
STAFF
Publisher . .. Harry K. Farrar '27
Editor and Business Manager . Edward Hutchings Jr.
Student News, - .. . .James Hendrickson '50
Staff Photographer. . Ralph Lovberg '50
Editorial Consultant. Professor of English George R. MacMinn
PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE
Chair man - -- - --. .. - - - -- ---- . . . . Harry K. Farrar '27
Members . . . ..... . Richard H. Jahiis '35. Martin H. Webster 37
Published monthly, October through June, at the California Institute of Technology,
1201 East California St., Pasadena 4, Calif., for the undergraduates, graduate students
and alumni of the Institute. Annual subscription $3 00, single copies 35 cents. Entered as
second class matter at the Post Office at Pasadena, California, on September 6, 1939,
under the act of March 3, 1879. All P~blii.her'~ Bights Resened. Reproduction of material
contained herein forbidden without written authorization.
APRIL 1950-3