New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-01
RADIUM'S VAST POWER.
Millions of Times Nightier Than
Dynamite. Darzcin Says.

johannesburg Aug. n.-Professer George Howard
Darwin second OF the author OF The Descent
eff Man." and professor of astronomy and expert
mental philosophy at Cambridge England. adj
dressed the British Association the meeting just
held here on the subjecr of Celestial Evolution"
Discussing the time occupied by the sequence OF
evolutionary events sketched Professor Darwin said
that If every moment since the birth of the
tidal friction had always been work in such
way to produce the greatest possible effect. we
should find that sixty million years would be con-
sumed in this portion OF evolutionary history The
true period must be much greater. and IT did not
Seem unreasonable to suppose that five hundred
million to billion years might have elapsed since
the birth OF the Such estimate would
not seem extravagaRt to biologists Pure geology
pointed to some period between fifty Hnillion and
billion years. the upper limit being more doubt
full than the lower. Thus they did not ind any
thing which rendered the tidal theory of evolution
untenable.
Dealing with the different estimates OF the ply
sicists and the geologsts. Professor Darwin said
that from calculation of the suns total output Of
heat it to be mpsrativeIy necessary that the
whole history of the solar system should be COM
prised within some twenty millions of years. For
the last forty years the physicists had been aecus
toned to tell the biologists that they must mod
crate their claims. but for himself he had always
believed that the biologists were more nearly cor
rect. And now. at length. relief had come TO the
strained relations between the two parties, for
the marvellous discoveries in physics showed
that concentration of matter not the only
source from which the might draw It's heat
Radium was substance which was perhaps
millions of times powerful than dynamite
Thus 1t was estimated that ounce Of radium
would contain enough power TO raise 1000 tons a
mil, above the earth's surface. Another way or
stating the same estimate that the energy
needed to tow ship ef LOCO tons distance OF
6000 sea miles fifteen knots was contained n
twenty-five of radiunl. The Saxon probably
burned five thousand six thousand tons OF coal
on a voyage OF approximately the same length
Now, knew that the earth contains radioactive
materials and II was safe that il forms
In some degree sample Of the materials OF the
solar system hence 1t was almost certain tnat the
sun is radio active alsa
Passing to the wider fields of the stellar uni
verse Professor Darwin referred the inconceiva-
bly, multitude Of stars and nebulse revealed oy
photography A celestial photograph. he said.
looked at first like dark sheet of paper spiashec
with whtewash. but further examination showed
that there was method in the arrangement or tha
white spots Thus there order of some sort
In the heavens. and IL possible to obtain gem
eral ideas as to succession Of events in stellar
evolution.
In conclusion Professor Darwin said:
We have seen that It is possible to trace the
solar system back to a primitive nepua with some
degree OF confidence, and that there IS reason -
believe that the in general nave originated
| stand in as much need of explanation as their
stellar offspring Thus, even II we grant the exact
truth of these theories, the advance toward an sA
PLANTATION Of the universe remains nlseraoiS Slight