Evening star., 1935-12-29
Magazine Section

nucleus of the atom when such things
are involved?
1--WE do know that the nucleus is
complex, evidenced by the rays emitted
by radium and similar substances.
These rays are not of the type that
could come from the atoms electron
atmosphere, but must originate in the
central core.
There is no doubt about an amaz-
ing array of scientific achievements
following in the wake of the analysis
of the substance that gives off such
rays as radiumi Light itself has been
a field of marvellous achievement in
recent years, and very possibly much
lies ahead for it."
Unlocking the secret of radiuml 1t
may be one of the miracles of the next
century through knowledge of the
atomic nucleus. But whether that is
achieved or not, certain it is that more
of its properties will be known and its
value enhanced.
The alchemist's dream of thousands
of years of Transforming base metals
into gold has crept within the realm
of possibility. The outer door to this
inner chamber of transmutation of ele-
ments was unlocked by Fermi in his
production of element No. SO. previ-
ously unknown to the earth, by bom-
harding uranium with neutrons.
This clement is a radioactive one,"
comments DR.. Compton. land repre-
sents mans first success in manu-
featuring a chemicalelement previously
unknown. 1t is too early to forecast
what the specific results will be. but in
importance in a scientific and human
way, the discovery of No. SO may be
found comparable to, or even sur
passing. the discovery of radium.
New developments in this field are
now coming so rapidly that it is i'm
possible to predict what the future
will bring. But these radioactive ma
terials may we'll prove to have COM
mcrcial value in the treatment of
disease and in industrial fields"
The process of transmutation of
elements was discovered as the result
of new finds in the structure of the
atom, with its units. the electron and
the proton, negatively and positively
charged units of the atom. There fol-
lowed the effort by chemists and
physicists to break up the ordinary
chemical atoms as radium atoms auto
matically do.
Success came by bombarding them
with positively charged helium atoms
shot out of exploding radium atoms.
Several stable atoms were broken up,
and helium and hydrogen atoms were
among the results. Likewise. atoms Of
helium we're produced by bombarding
lithium atoms with protons shot out
Oh dn eleCtIN CdIhiOus
Science has discovered that these
new-found helium atoms possess tre-
mendous energy - far more than that
of the bombarding particles. 1t sug-
gests a possible limitless source of
energy which, as a noted scientist to-
day AYERS. "if it can be practically and
efficiently utilized. will surpass by
thousand times the energy obtainable
from all the coal in the world"
'One ofthe responsibilities of science
is to find if that energy is available" "
states DR.. Compton, land if not we
should look elsewhere for a source of
energy"
If science and industry have been
able to produce quarter of a million
new materials in century by the
adaptation of known elements, how
infinite are the possibilities if new ele-
ments can be created! Time alone can
tell what the successful transmutation
of elements will achieve, but it may
easily surpass all that science has done
for man to date.
Of the many distinguished con-
tributions DIR. Compton has made to
science. the best known are his studies