Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-17

supply of fuel for a station-namely, 80 grams
Of water-win be carried in q teacup.
Asked to explain the nature Of this tremen-
dous energy which is now unavailable for prac-
tical use, Dr. johnson said that we were being
served by atomic energy in way we do not
realize.
"It is a common belief" he said chat the
earth is kept warm by the heat which flows
out Of the sun. While sunlight comes to US in
great volume, 1t is not sufficient to maintain
the globe at its present temperature, making
human habitation possible.
1.-The earth is also heated from within. We
are being served by the disintegration of atoms
below the surface Of the earth. The radum
ores, such as Colorado carnotite and pitch
blende; the potassium group Of minerals. ETC..
constantly diSintegrate and give on energy.
THE known deposits of these disintegrating
ores, plus the heat which we receive from the
sun, roughly approximateS the amount OF heat
energy which is present on the earth.
ANY one who has read about radium knows
that it breaks down and that this property of
radium is used to control and cure some types
Of cancer. The rays Of radum lombard the
cancerous tissues with terrific force, retard
their growth and sometimes destroy them. How
they work against malignant tissue is q mys-
terry, but their beneficial effects have been
proved.
TT is common knowledge that when atoms
move from one combination to another, heat
energy Is released or absorbed, and this fact is
used in many chemical processes. There is no
change in the atom itself, merely the move
ment of the atoms of specific substances which
are released from one element only to combine
with another.
when we speak of using the power in the
atom we are speaking of using the power which
results when the atom ITSELF the combination
of protons and electrons, is broken down. Some
power, some force binds the parts of an atom
together. The secret of using the power in
Ale atom is to find an inexpensive way of re-
leasing that atomic binder.
when we change water into steam we must
use heat energy to vaporize the water into q
gas. The expanding gas will work for III in
boilers and turbines. This is relatively cheap
way of using the power in an expanding gas.
There has been no change in the chemical
composition. Steam and water are the same
thing in different forms.
"a method for extracting the power of the
atom must tear the atom apart if 1t is to be
of any practical value to mankind. Energy In
disintegrating radium atom is terrific force
-radium destroys itSelf-but we do not know
how to trap That energy for any other use than
the medical one already mentioned.
'The chemical elements in the order of their
atomic weights range from hydrogen, the light
est, up to platinum and uranium. 1t is a PEI
culiar fact that in the elements up to iron
we release energy by combining and building
up these elements and from iron up to the
heaviest metals we derive energy by breaking
them down.
why binding atoms together, up to the
atomic weight Of iron, yields energy and why it
is necessary to cut the binder from iron up to
uranium to obtain energy is one OF the mys-
terSes OF matter which is still unsolved"
Copyright 1sSO)