New-York tribune., 1906-04-23
THE WORLDS DEBT TO THE CURES

THE WORLDS DEBT TO THE CURES.
The recent death of DR. Curie who, with his
wifes cooperation, discovered the element ra-
dunn, naturally raises the question, What good
was done by that remarkable achievement?
SO far as strictly practical results are con-
cerned, mankind has thus far gained compara-
lively little. For remedial purposes radium is
better than X-ray apparatus because it is more
intense in its action. Through it's property of
exciting fuorescence it affords a new test Of
the genuineness of diamonds. Beyond these two
applications it is impossible to go just now.
The greatest Importance Of the Curies' WORK ap-
parently lies in the novelty of some of the
qualities of radium and the theoretical conclu-
sions which have been drawn from the behavior
of this strange substance.
Nearly ten years ago R0ntgen observed that
vacuum tube emitted an invisible radiance
that was different from anything previously
known. Soon afterward Becquerel found that
the metal uranium possessed the same prop
erty, though the manifestation was extremely
feeble For a time physicists were uncertain
whether the X rays were ether waves or u
stream of solid particles. similar to a micro
scopic sand blast Already opinion was inclin-
ing TO the latter theory when it was practically
confirmed by Rutherford and others who stud
led the characteristics of radium The new ele-
ment emts three distinct kinds of rays, which
have been named after the first three letters of
the Greek alphabet. The gamma" RAYS seem
TO be Identical with those generated by q
Crookes tube, and all three are now believed
to be projected particles. The Curies did not
participate in this particular research but no.
body would have undertaken it if they had not
first discovered radium.
Again, Professor J. J. Thomson had con-
vinced himself that there were particles much
smaller than the atom-so diminutive in fact
that about a thousand were needed to equal in
bulk the hydrogen atom. He reasoned from
the principle that the size of a mass must be
proportionate to the measurable charge of cleo
tricity which it carried. His reasoning was
sound, though startling. It's acceptance was
FASTENED, however, by the fact that the beta"
rays of Rutherford seemed to correspond in
size to ThomsOn's "corpusces." On the other
hand Thomsons previous and independent
work made Rutherfords revelation possible
Rutherford indirectly commended to general
favor two other propositions of Thomson. One
was the doctrine that an atom is a composite,
and not what its name implieS--an irreducible
minimum The other is that matter is little
more than electricity Thomson thinks that all
atoms consist of one principal, positively cleo
trifed particle and a larger number of mega
lively electrified cOrpuscles. He explains the
difference in the elements-between carbon and
gQlQ, Tor lHSLdQce-lN SuppOSlng tndC tne 1Or-
mula and geographical arrangement of the atom
of one are unlike those of an atom Of the other.
The chief, positively electrified component of his
atom seems to have a parallel in the "alpha"
ray of Rutherford.
The Curies themselves noticed the mysterious
output of heat from radium. This is now be-
lieved to be product of spontaneous disinte-
grafton Of some of the atoms of the element.
Another evidence that this particular sub
stance is unstable was reported by Mr. Soddy.
When confined for n suitable length of time it
evolves helium. The suspicion that the latter
is result of transmutation of the original
material is held by Sir William Ramsay who
has cautiously repeated Mr.. Soddys expert
mentS.
Here then, are half dozen new concep-
tions of the nature of matter which have been
either inspired or strengthened by the peculiari-
ties of radium. What further results, material
and philosophical, will follow those already
corded no one can foresee; but. as the account
stands to-day, the worlds debt to the Curies is
a great one.