The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-05-02
Today S Science
BY DAVID DIETZ-

A RADIUM bath may be the reason that lawns
and gardens seem to thrive so well after
thunderstorm. This suggestion was put forward not
as fact, but hypothesis worthy of investigation
by biologists at the session in Washington of the
American Geophysical Union.
The possibility was suggested by DR.. G. R. Wait
and DR.. A G. McNish of the department of terres-
trial magnetism of the Carnegie Institution of
Washington.
There is tiny amount of radium scattered every
where in the earths crust the two investigators
planned.
1t is probable that since the earth originally
cooled from a molten of material, that there
are slight amounts of every chemical element every
where. These amounts are too small to be detected
chemically But radium because it gives off power
full radiatons be detected by means OF electrical
meters known as electroScopes
One form assumed by radium in the course of its
transformation is that of gas Consequently, there
is leakage of radium from the earth into the at
mosphere. the two investigators explained AS re-
suit minute quantities of radfum are always present
in the atmosphere
DURINCT thunderstorm. they explained. ascend
ING air currents rushing up into the clouds
cause concentration of radlum IN the nelghoornooo
of the clouds. Much OF InlS Iduull hiuSO NC "eA0N
down with the rain.
The Investigators said that they were loath to
discuss the subject of whether or not the benenca
die to radum and preferred to leave that as sub
ject for investigation for biologists
The Cieophysical Union members, concerned as
they are with the physics of the earth discussed
many phases of weather. the earths magnetism at-
r,osnheric electricity and related subjects
DR. w j. Rooney of the department OF terrestrial
raonetsn of the Carnegie Institution, told the as
ser5bIed scientists that observations made last year
DURING the so-called International Polar Year at
C,olege-Fairbanks. Alaska showed that there was
direct connection between the aurora boreahS and
The generation of strong electric currents, in the
earth's crust These currents he said. were suth-
GENTLY strong to disrupt the operation OF grounded
telegraph lines.
"FSther the currents we're caused by the aurora,
or both we're caused by some as yet undiscovered fac
tor he said.
DR K L. SHERMAN. reporting on observations
II of atmospheric electricity, made also at the
Fairbanks station. reported that the atmos-
pheric electricity there behaved in the same fashion
that it does in other parts of the world.
A number of years ago. scientists OF the Carnegie
Institution. cruising the seas in the nonmagneuc
Yacht Carnegie found that everywhere the strength
day. reaching maximum at about or in the
afternoon
DR.. Sherman reported that the Alaskan obServa-
tons supported this finding Apparently the greater
frequency and strength of the boreals in the
far north did not influence the strength Of the atmos
pheric electricity near the ground.
DR.. B. F. j. Secondhand told the union Of studies
of lightning which he had conducted. He said that
the great majority of lightning flashes were between
clouds and that only occasional flash struck the
md,