Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-23


one of the most carefully studied, as
an example, he pictures "a mass nearly
2. 900, 100000 times the mass OF an aver
age star like our sun-a thousand mil
lion stars and much uncondenSed gas,
all forming a giant spiral nebula travel
ing through space at least. 300 kllo-
meters per second and, as 1t travels,
slowly expanding and unwinding its
spiral arms, while as whole 1t is turn
ing around with solemn, majestic de-
liberation"
Then, proceeding on calculations from
the Einstein theory, which gives the
radius of curvature of space-time which
makes up the structure Of the universe,
Douglas calculates the breath-taking
figure of 10 followed by 81 ciphers,
about 10 septrillion octrillion tone Of
matter in the whole universe. This Is
about 10 septrillion octrillion tons OF
matter as is contained in the sun, or
35 600. 900, 000, 100000 times as much
matter as is contained in a normal
galaxy Of stars.
Science Stands Helpless.
Before such an enormous universe
science as yet stands helpless, he points
out, for III the distance of a galaxy
exceed only one Six-hundredth of the
radius of curvature mentioned above,
no telescope yet constructed can detect
it. But the astronomer, with reliable
knowledge Of hundreds of stars and as
many nebulae, and glimpses of thou-
sands yet more distant, will not refrain
from speculation regarding the vast
regions as yet beyond his ken-the
ocean of space-tinne studded with
1000. 900, 900 100000 glorious island uni
verses"
The nature of the mysterious, tnvisi-
BILE cosmic rays perpetually bombardine
the earth from outer space, some OF
which are so powerful that they will
penetrate 18 feet of lead, is close to a
solution, their discoverer, Prof. Robert
A. Millikan of the California Institute
of Technology, reveals in the annual
report of the Smithsonian Institution.
They are, he believes, the birth strug-
giles of matter itself being created in the
form of atoms in the vast spaces be-
tween the stars, later to become new
stars.
While many still believe that they
are the result of forces let loose in the
disintegration Of matter, it Is pointed
out by Millikan and his associate, G.. H.
Cameron, they are so much more pow
erful than the strongest rays produced
by radioactive processes, the gamma
rays Of radium, that another explana-
ton is necessary.
The rays, it is pointed out, strike the
earth with equal intensity from all d.
rections, night and day. Thus it is
obvious that their principle source is
not the sun, as probably would be the
case If they were due to the disintegra-
ton Of matter.
On the other hand, he points out,
evidence obtained with the Spectroscope
shows that free positive and negative
electrons exist in great quantities, but
very loosely diffused, in space itself
where there is complete absence of
temperature. In some manner not I'M
derstood they are pushed together into
hydrogen atoms, which in turn COM
bine into such elements as helium, oxy-
gen, silicon and iron. In this process
the electrons loose some of their masses,
thus releasing the cosmic ray energy.
The force of gravity, DR.. Millikan
says, then pulls the atoms together into
stars, where, under enormous tempera-
lures and pressures, some of them are
disintegrated again. providing the
source Of the stars heat.
But this line of reasoning, DR.. MILL
kan says, forces one to complete the
cycle of the birth, death and rebirth
OF matter, the radiant heat sent forth
from the star forming In some way into
positive and negative electrons again
and undergoing once more the same
olrth process into atoms.