Evening star., 1923-07-31
Scientist Conducts
Fine Balancing
Tests Here.

DR. Paul r. Hey1, expert physicist
at the United States bureau of stand
ards, who is just completing the
most exhaustive crystal weight ex-
periments ever made by scientists.
has failed to disprove the Einstein
theory of relatively.
The results mean that the Einstein
theory must stand, he says. unless
some other scientist is able by some
simpler method to prove 1t wrong.
DR. HeyI's experiments are five-
eixths finished. He is covering all
of the six crystalline systems. taking
one or two crystals from each. SO
far he finds Einstein may have hewn
a little nearer to the line than New
ton.
One Part in Billion.
To test Einstein's theory of gravi-
tation. which has been called the
most sensational discovery in the
history of science and is also alleged
to have upset to some extent the
theories of Calico. Newton ana
Euclid. DIR. Heyl is using scales so
delicate in their adjustment as to
detect a weight difference of one
part in billion. He is using crys-
tails that weigh about three pounds.
To prevent heat from the human
body having any possible erect on
the results DIR. Heyl performs MS
tests from another room by the use
of rods which connect with the pal
ances and the crystals.
A visit to his laboratory Is some
thing like an inspection of King
Tutankhamen's tomb He hrst taxes
rhe visitor into the outer room here
he calls attention to the outer ends
built into a pillar OF bricks so they
will be absolutely mottonless. he
then takes a key and unlocks the
door into a room about the size or a
small closet. From here the visitor
is taken through another door into
the inner shrine which is small
room. lighted by electricity, and per-
haps not the shape of King Tuts
tomb, but certainly as not.
Blanket Over Apparatus.
big blanket covers part of the
apparatus. Against the glass case
protecting the balances DR.. Heyl
keeps layer of cork about tnree
inches thick, which is intended to
protect the instruments from changes
in temperature The crystal on which
the scientist Is working is securely
fastened in one side of the scales and
the necessary balancing welghts IN
the other. 1t is amid these surround
TO the crucial test.
While the tests are in progress all
doors are locked and the results are
observed through a telescope from
weighed in different positions in re-
lation to the axis Of the earth, After
the position of a crystal has been
changed the pointer on the scales
moves up and down for over two
hours before coming to a stop.
Through the telescope the pointer is
watched and its final stopping place
recorded.
The Einstein theory of gravita-
tion challenges the Newtonian theory
in some respects" says DR.. Heyl. The
theory has led to the expectation that
= a crystal will not vary in weight, no
matter whether its axis is vertical or
horizontal to the axis of the earth.
the Newton theory. In order to dis
prove Einstein l would have to find
that they did differ.
after finishing fve-sixths of my ex-
periments find that they do not differ.
Cloudy Days Best.
The crystals on the balances have
been arranged so dedcately that they
can be turned without removing, them.
simply by operating one of the rods
through the hole in the wall. l have
performed the experiments with the
greatest care and have found cloudy,
damp Gays ln6 DSSI IOr the WOTk. INeT6
seems to be less atmospheric interfer-
ence.
Fearing that the street cars might
have some bearing on the results,
worked many nights when the cars
were not running. They made no diff
ference. The fact that l cannot dis
prove the theory does not necessarily
prove Einstein right, but it is only fair
that the formula should stand until it is
definitely proved wrong. This 1 can
not do
Einsten once said only twelve men in
the world understood his theory. But
DR.. Heyl does not admit being one of
the twelve. THAT may have been true
when DR.. Einstein made the assertion"
he said, "but great many scientists
understand it now
So he may be number one. five or
twelve in the list, or perhaps number
not much taken with the theory at the