Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-23
DR.. JOHN A. MILLER
On the Subatomic Theory

yJ,IIE confirmation of q theory which may
i rcvolutioniZr all science and which would
form the most important discovery SIN
Nrwton'S Laws of Motion is the poinC
toward which all astronomers are oenu'.s
their energies. according to DR.. Johh a.
Miller. professor Of astronomy and ma'he-
matics at SwarthmOrc College.
"rhis theory says Doctor Miller. may
be broadly termed the subatomic theory. ana
concerns the tremendous energy which Is re-
leased making for force OF enormous mag
nitude when an atom of matter under thc
great heat and pressure OF the sun Is al'lueu
into smaller units. or elcctrons'
'In fact. we have gone so far that scien,
fists arr quite close to finding a way to split
rho cIrrtron into still smaller units of matter.
.Studics of astronomers were quickened
in this direction in the last ten years or so
nv tho Curr rudum discovery and the hnd
inc or thr Y ray Careful observations ana
measurements by astronomers nave tehd'd
to confirm the theory. The Einstcin theory
which would mean modification OF New
tons theory of gravitation, has been to
drproc confirmed by scientific and astro-
romirhl measurement. There will be an
crlipsr of the sun in Australia in 1022, when
measurements will again be taken, and one
In Mexico in September. lo23, when VIII
afford n further chance for confirmation of
this theory.
."rhc confirmation of this theory would
be one step toward the establishment OF the
subatomic theory.
at is quite possible that, with this theory
fully established, practical use could be made
of IT, With the existence Of such force
once known. it would be possible by expert
mcnt to find means of producing it.
Widespread in Possibilities
Its effect would be revolutionary. There
Is no question that most OF the problems
which puzzlc the scientists today could be
solved if this theory were established and
mt on a working basis. 1t would be possible
to make the earth give up its secrets. Pas
sage of the air and undersraS would then
become comparatively simple matter. We
could anuihilate space in way undrenmGd
of now. Great engineering problems could
be readily solved and almost every branch Of
cndravor which affects our everyday lives
would be completely changed.
"Obscrvations of the sun show that very
grpat percentage of the chemical elements
| which exist here are also to be found on that
| body. This is valuable in that it brings
| home to us the fact that the heat and forces
| at work within the sun producing trcmcn-
| dous energy affect the same elements as on
| our own planet
| "Furthrr observations show that most Of
| the stars nearest to us of the same de-
| SCrlDtlOn uS lHe SuH' hH'H lultH'l uN ny
| than these are the calcium stars Of an en-.
tirey different composition. whose effect on
! the earth it is not so easy to figure.
| AT the recent COnvcptiOn of the National
| Association of Astronomers It northampton
| the results of Il concerted effort in measuring
| the distances to the stars which most affect
| MS were made. II showed that where some
| fen years ago but a little more than 200
| stars were known distances away from us.
| the efforts of the half dozen ObscrvatoriPs in
| the country. of which the Sproul Observa .
| tory at SwarthmOrc is one, have resulted
| in ascertaining the distances from the earth
| of nearly 900 stars
"Of course, this is a small percentage
when YOU consider that there are some mil
! lions of them. but it is big step and very
| necessary one If we are to find anything
| definite about the other stars which might
| bear on this theory.
1--WE are able to study the sun with com
| narrative ease. because it is but mere
| G3 OOO. 900 miles away. We have established
| thc existence of the next nearest star as 4 e
| Iight years from us. a light year, for the
| lrncft Of the layman, Is the distance n ray
Of light would travel in one year at the rate
Of 1855 900 miles per second. Some stars we
have found sixty light years away and a
| great percentage of them are more than 36C
| light years away, or greater distance than
| any present instruments are capable Of
| detecting
at was planned at the convention to or
] ganize astronomical work so that it may be