The Washington herald., 1921-11-19

WILL NEBULIUM GAS
BE NEXT CHEMICAL MoNDERg

When scientists solve the elu-
sive mystery Of nebulium. the pc
culisr gas which is the most com
mon element OF remote nebIlae.
but unknown on earth or in sun
and stars, will they discover such
important and remarkable facts for
scienes and industry as they did
whenFthey solved that other big
chemical mystery OF the stars-th-
nature Of the gas helium." Prof.
! Harlow Shspley. OF the Harvard
| College Observatory. asked in an
address at the recent meeting ~
I the American Electro-Chemical So
ciety at Lake Placid. y. Y.
Does nebulium exist on earth.
still concealed from the chemist b.
its rarity or peculiar properties.
much as helium long remained uu-
identified. though IL occurs fire.
quently in rocks and to a sma
extent in the very air we breathe
This was another question he suE-
gested.
The diffuse nebulae are distant
gaseous masses that the sstronu-
msrs believe are the forerunners
Of stars and planets. Their light
is due mostly 10 hydrogen. nitro
gen, helium. and the mysterious
nebulium. Hydrogen is the most
important constituent Of water and
most liquids: nitrogen makes Up
four-hfths OF the earth's atmos-
phere. and is sll-important In the
structures Of plants and animals:
helium is now believed to be fun
dsmental in the making OF. tire
metals. Probably nebuliUm. the
fourth important gas in the diffuse
nebulae, is or has been Of similar
significance in the universe. Prof.
Shapley said. What may the fun
knowledge Of its nature have IA
store for u.s. Is Il perhaps one OF
the known gases. shining In the
nebulse under conditions not pres
ent in the sun or stars or in our
earthly laboratories? Its idcntir-
cation may be one Of the epoch
making steps in the chemistry 90
| the stars
Helium was FIRST found fffy
years ago by astronomers white
snslyzing the light Of the sun and
stars. 1t was named in honor a.;
the sun. for which the Greek name
is helios. Its radistions CORE
sponded TO those Of no chemical
:. substance then known. when. n
nally, helium was discovered on thu
earth, il proved TO be one Of III,
most important chemical elements.
Not only has its value been demon
strated as a nonburning. noneN'
ploding gas for the filling 3l
i l.
has greatly increased our knowl
edge OF radium and Of the othet
radioactive elements When radio
active elements break down. heIiun
! is one OF the results. In fact. tn
high-speed elected atoms ~ heliun
constitute the powerful hcat-pru
ducing rays OF rsdium.
e Helium has become 81 s,ill NOR,
Importance TO the scientist throuEl
b the discovery that the great ma
jority OF all the chemical element.
in the stars, in the earth's crust
and in living, organisms-sUCh su"
, stances as carbon. oxygen. Sara
sulphur, copper. and iron-wcrC a'
psrentIy built out Of helium atoms
at some time during the PAST his
tory OF the universe.
. ACCORDING 10 fIol- SAaI '-'Ns '-A'
trical and chemical iahoratnr."S ".
uneNcelled power exist IN the -
teriors OF stars. where the temper
ature runs to millions OF degrees
and the radiation is nearly an Ike
; N-rays. Even near IN" suriag" o'
the sun the temperature IS muc'
{ higher than that 81 our cl"rir'
: furnaces, and tho most refractory
!. chemical compounds are brokrl
down by the enormous heat aH.
radiation. For some common r.r
, ments like sodium. potassium. an'
calcium. the atoms themselves az,
partially torn to pieces iu the s"ldi
laboratory.
| " n