Evening star., 1931-06-17
HOLDS UNIVERSE
| NOT BREAKING UP
DR.. Tolman Expresses New
Thought on AnnihiIation Of
Matter and Expansion.
BY the Associated Press.

Association for Advancement of Science
that the universe might not be headed
toward complete annihilation, as some
scientists believe.
The suggestion was indirect, in care
fully chosen scientific phrases, as Is the
habit Of the noted mathematical phys
icist, but there was no niistaking his
implications.
He expressed some new thoughts
about the annihilation Of matter, the
flow Of radiation into space. and the
expansion Of the universe as evidenced
by the disclosures of DR.. Edwin Hubble,
noted Mount Wilson astronomical ex-
plorer, that the island universeS are
rushing away from the earths region at
tremendous speeds.
1t was Hubble's observation and Toll
mans calculations that last February
caused DR.. Albert Einstein to cast aside
his concept Of static universe and
accept the theory OF an expanding
universe.
Offers New Solution.
The humiliation of matter and flow
Of radiation into space as interpreted
under classical rmodynannics gave q
conclusion that was difhcult for phys
iciStS and mathematicians to accept.
This conclusion was that the universe
was running down or going to pieces
at such a rate that it was inevitable,
maximum, that the whole Of creation
would come to standstill.
This makes a difaculty for the time
scale, or calculated time of the history
of the universe, since scientists said
1t was hard to see why this standStill
condition of heat-death, as 1t is called
has not already been reached.
Tolman'S announcement today Of
fered the possibility Of q new kind
tension of thermodynamicS. This re-
veals that there might be no thermo-
dynamic obstacle to vast cycles through
which the universe could move by re-
versible processes.
Radiation Temperature Low.
ITO carry out such an analysis" said
Tolman. 1.-The mathematical treatment
Is given for simplified model OF q
universe filled with a uniform diStri-
button of radiation in equilibrium with
matter in the form of monatomic gas
It is known that the matter in such q
system could undergo annihilation by
Transformation into radiation at finite
rate, and yet reversibly without increase
in entropy, and that this reversible
annihilation of matter would neces-
sarily be accompanied by an expansion
of the universe. That Is, by the kind
Of behavior which appears to be as
sociated in our actual universe with
the red shift In the light from distant
nebulae.
cit is also shown that an observer in
such a universe who marks out with
rigid meter sticks a portion Of the uni
verse in his vicinity for study would
find not only that matter in this region
was being annihilated at finite rate,
but also that the energy and tempera--
ture of the region was dropping. and
that radiation was flowing at q lower
temperature than the material In his
own immediate vicinity.
Much Work to Be Done.
"These findings would be interpreted
by the observer from classical point
of view as unmistakable evidence that
the entropy, or heat-death, Of his uni
verse was increasing, in spite Of the
fact that all the processes in the sys-
versibly without increase in entropy,
when examined from the more legiti-
mate point of view Of the relativtstic
thermodynamicS which must be used
under the circumstances.
Much work remains to be done. using
models which give more adequate rep
resentation of the actual universe than
the simple one containing merelys q
homogeneous distribution Of radiation
and perfect gas. Nevertheless, the re-
suits already obtained are SUFFICIENT to
indicate that the thermodynamic be-
havior of the universe as q whole must
certainly be analyzed from the new
point of view of relativistic thermo-
dynamics rather than from the old
point of view of classical thermo-
dynamicS If we are to obtain a real
insight into the problem Of the entropy
of the universe as whole"
How ticks from Tunisia are helpful
in combating disease of the nervous Sys-
tenn was told in a paper before the
medical section of the association yes
terday by DR.. Frederick Eberson and DR..
William @. Mossman. research experts
of the University of California.
Spirochete organisms from Tunisia
ticks, they reported, have been grown
artificially in culture media and found
to have an advantageous effect in COM
batting paresis.
The spirochetes can be inoculated
into patients by means of q drop or
two Of culture instilled into the eye or
injected under the skin, they said.
They produce a fever and invade the
nervous Tissue ACCacklnB the cause 1OT
certain nervous ailments.
This inoculation, the doctors report
ed, has none of the dangerous effects
incident to fever therapy with the
malarial parasite as used in the past.
Attacks on Buildings Discussed.
Attacks on frame buildings in many
sections of the country by termites
were discussed by University Of Cali
forn1a experts. These insects, which
come in colonies of millions, appear to
be of the same genesis as cockroaches,
they said.
One half cubic foot Of wood from
house under attack. they revealed, can
contain 1000 termites. They live on
the cellulose in wood. They do not
migrate extensively, and can be con-
trolled by properly isolating the house
from contact Of wood with earth.
treatment Of wood and annual inspec-
tions.
The value of walnuts, avocados and
dates as curatives for nutritional anemia
was discussed by DR.. Roger w. Trues-
dali Of Pomona College.
He revealed experimental work DEM
onstrating high value of these foods.
yet none he said compared in curative
value to beef liver.
HOT DANCE Of ET.rCTRnNS