Evening star., 1935-12-29
eAz-condIt1oned clothing; ew,rless
posOertfo autos, planes, homes; longer
H0es: These are coming. But Sciences
greatest gift, says Arthur H. (ombtou, S\Csebe/
Prise sr1nuer, suU be use Of its methods
in curing economic and boAhca/M
by WILLIAM F. MCDERMOTT

neglect of such activities as fundamental
science. which are of international value.
THE result has been sharp drop in the
scientific work of the German nation, which
for half century has been perhaps the worlds
leading exponent of the value of scientific
thought. Our country now stands as the
leader in most branches of science"
Though political evolution for the attain
ment of civilized government may be sciences
greatest contribution during the next century,
yet in its own scope many miracles - used in
the sense of the apparently unattainable -
may happen, according to the winner of the
Nobel physics award.
Science advances in waves" says Pro-
fessor Compton, land the world of physics
is now on rising wave 1t was believed at the
close of the nineteenth century that the major
discoveries of physics had all been made.
Then there burst upon the world of science
the discovery of X-rays and of radium, the
quantum theory and the theory of relatively.
Again it was felt, as young scientist said,
All of the fundamental problems of chemistry
and most of those of physics are now solved.
There was, in fact, during 1881 again the
conviction among many physicists that their
research was along the line of diminishing
returns. Yet once again there come more
startling new discoveries, and we find our
selves at the threshold of period of intense
research activity.
"The major objectives that now lie ahead
of us are the solution of the nucleus of the
atom, transmutation of the elements and
cosmic rays. Involved in them may easily be
consequences as profound as any of record in
the scientific field
The nucleus of the atom - who cares any
thing about it but the dyed-in-t -the-wool scien-
tist ? And what will it do for John Citizen once
it is ascertained?-
The same question doubtlessly was pro-
pounded about Benjamin Franklin and his
kite in the search for the nature of lightning.
No one could ever dream the outcome - yet
we have electricity and all that it means
today Likewise, the scientist will not prophesy
the results of solving the riddle of the nucleus
of the atom - but he is certain they will be
profound!
1t is known that electrical atmosphere COM
poses the outer portion of the atom - and
wherever electricity is, there something is
surely doing! But of the nucleus of the atom,
DR.. Compton speaks thus:
"The inner nucleus about which this elec.
trical atmosphere spreads has remained an i'm.
conquered citadel. Rapidly, however, breaches
in the walls of this castle are being made, and
spies in the form of high speed particles are
bringing us information regarding the inner
fortress.
Important knowledge has been gained from
the study of radioactivity. Artificial dsin.
tegration of the atoms nucleus, first accom-
plished by Rutherford, has become an
important tool of investigation. Fermi has
built up heavier atoms out of lighter ones
which has led to the discovery of whole new
series of radioactive elements.
"And mark this: There has been found q
new group of fundamental particles which en-
ter into the composition of matter Who car
Continued on page 1O)