The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-03
Today S Science
by DAVID DIETZ-

CUPPOSE that the passage OF a coSmic ray through
- your body was accompanied by a sensation
comparable to the prick Of pin. Then. in addition
to being conscious OF world torn by threats of war;
relationships revolutions, religious quaTrelS.
pIOyment and Townsend plans. you would be
sciOus of 25 lrprcks every second of the "a hours
COSmic rays by the billions. each one capable of
going through sheet of lead several feet thick,
tinuOusly enter the earth's atmosphere from outer
space. perhaps from beyond the Milky Way. Each
second p of them 60 through your body
What effect If any. do they have upon the human
organism? Science is not yet prepared to answer.
Scientists do know what happens when cOSmic
ray collides with the nucleus Of an atom. There
IS a sudden explosion. more destructive than any
explosion known to science. The nucleus Is blown
to pieces. sometimes more than 200 electrons and
other sub-atomic particles flying out Of it. At the
same time gamma rays. rays Of energy ike those
produced by radum. are released
Now then suppose that cOSnic ray scores such
A direct hit upon an atom in the very center OF an
important cell IN the brain. The atom Is blown TO
pieces Atomic particles and radium-like rays are
released What is their effect upon the brain?
Sometimes YOU say "A thought Just struck me-
kfavbe that expression is closer 10 the truth than
YOU think Perhaps it a coSmc ray. tiny par
ticle 1ving in through your skull with tremendous
speed. smashing atom in brain cell ana START
ing the electrical train that you identify as
Tlis is only a speculation. suggested it to DR..
Arthur H Compton. wOrld-fsmous coSnlic ray au-
thority OF the University of Chicago, once he
shrugged his shoulders and laughed.
However decade ago shortly after Dr. R A
Nuliksn had Just confirmed the existence OF the
cosmc rays I heard the late Dr. Michael l. Puph
express the suggestion that the ooSic rays is-.s
turn out to be the source Of energy which actValeo
the living cell. This does not now seem 10 De the
case. -,
rrofound effect upon living things. Historians nave
noted that the affairs Of go in cycles one such
cycle eliminated in the outbreak OF the war IN 1913
Today the world seems trembling again upon me
start Of a general war. What brings on TINS war
can il be that there is a fuctuation in the
strength Of cosnic rays over periods Of years ana
that these affect mankind IN some unknown way
Scientists VIII treat the suggestion with some I'M
patience.
ITO appreciate the cosnlic ray bombardment one
Il must stand in a laboratory. as I have done IN
which coSrnic ray detectOr has been connected 10
a radio loudspeaker The impact Of coSmic rays IN
the apparatus sounds like the roll Of a drum.
But CoSmic rays are not the only force bonn
harding the earth Our earth. once thought o. as
an isolated object in the universe. Is now known
70 be the target for all sorts OF cOSic forces many
OF which undoubtedly have direct effect upon lie
The importance OF this fact was once pointed out
to me by Dr. W. J. Humphreys. famous physicist OF
the United States Weather Bureau and former chair
man OF the American Geophysical Union.
our earth Is in the midst of gravity fields cleo
trfca fields and magnetic fields" Dr. Humphreys told
me 1t IS bombarded by eleCtrOnS and other par
ticles shot out Of the sun and perhaps out Of the
stars we'll
A STROLOGY makes no appeal TO scientists They
n are unwilling 10 believe that the particular spot
in which tie planets happened 10 be in the SKY when
YOU we're born has anything 10 DO with Your life
But the new viewpoint which have ventured 10 call
the new astrology" while taking over none of the
superstitions Of astroogy. does admit that the sun
and stars have many effects upon terrestrial phe-
nOmena which were previously unsupported.
one OF the foremost workers in this new field is
DrsHarlan 7. StetSon Of the Harvard School Of
Geography He prefers 10 call this field Of cosmic
influences upon the earth by the name Of COS
mecology."