Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-08-07
Long Years Of Work
Still Needed 10 Make
Most Of Atomic Power
BY HOWARD w. BLAKESLEE,
Associ 1 tad Press Science Editor.

BY HOWARD w. BLAkESLEE,
Associated Press Science Editor.
NEW YORK, Aug. THE atomic
bomb power Is likely to be very
long time in growing to the point
where it can produce either hell or
heaven on earth.
A clear picture of the difficulties
is shown in nuclear physics, the sci
ence of the nucleus OF atoms, which
produced the atomic bomb.
There Is also nonscientific tip
off in the amazing cost of making
the first atomic bomb--two billion
dollars-by far the most expensive
power gadget of all time.
Getting Fraction Of Power.
Actually at present the scientists
are not getting more than a small
fraction of the power, explosive or
otherwise, in the, atom. There is
the probability Of many years work
to develop either full explosive or
complete useful power, such as
heating homes for cent or two a
day, and driving machines of all
sorts at almost no power expense
The nuclear physics picture is
simple. Any and all atoms are made
the same and OF the same building
blocks. The particles forming them
are first, electrons, or negative bits
of electricity; second. protons, which
are positive charges 1900 times
more massive than the electrons,
and third. neutrons, which are nom
charged and as heavy as the pro-
tons.
The center, the nucleus, is an in
credibly hard knot of protons and
neutrons. Around this center circle
the electrons, in orbits, at differing
distances outward. The electrons
travel at speeds of probably thou
sands Of miles an hour. Nobody
knows for sure since there is no
way of measuring. But they are so
fast that they give the false i'm
preston that an atom Is a solid
body.
Toughest Things in Universe.
These atoms are the toughest
things in the known universe. Elec-
trical and chemical forces strip a
few electrons of the surface, that is,
the outer shell. The inner cleo
irons don't usually break loose I'M
less millions of volts of costly power
are applied.
Finally the forces which bind the
basket of atomic marbles are still
greater. They haven't even been
measured.
Actually there Is as yet no known
way of breaking an atomic nucleus
1t is done indirectly by shooting
in an extra atomic particle which
causes the nucleus to become un-
stable, and when that happens a
few of the nuclear marbles come
shooting out.
In the case Of uranium 235. in
stead of a few nuclear marbles, the
whole nucleus broke in two, and
the rest of the atom with it.
Every one of these breaks in the
atom releases some energy or power
The energy is the force, probably
electrical, which does the binding
job. Nowhere else are binding
forces so vast, and therefore no
other source offers so much power
from breaking the binding knots.
Rare Form Is Split.
When uranium was split in twain
200 900 900 electron volts OF energy
was released. That is tremendous
But actually 1t is only fraction of
per cent Of all the energy bound
up in a uranium atom.
This tiny energy fraction, however
was almost infinitely greater than
anything previously obtained by
breaking atoms. 1t was the start
of the atomic bomb.
Despite the dazzling fact of new
horizon of civilization opening up
the work to be done yet is stag.
gering. The reports indicate thai
so far only uranium is being split
to make the bomb. Uranium Is only
one of the 90 chemical elements
What splits uranium does not spill
other atoms. Each one needs {
separate and different key. Eacf
one of these keys is likely to be a.
difficult If not as expensive to dis.
cover as was the present key tt
uranium.
Furthermore, only one kind o.
uranium splits-a rare form known
as 235. Out of the common form o.
uranium the scientists can make {
new form. called 239, which also viii
split and yield useful atomic power
But even common uranium is scare,
so far as now known. The prospect!
are that uranium atomic power OF
bombs will not be cheap for a very
long time, if ever.
Iron, carbon, aluminium, oxyger
and numerous other chemical ele.
ments are plentiful enough to Civ
cheap source of power If theil
atoms can be split. 1t is likely tina
will be done, but the cautious Wash,
ington prediction of years" of worl
may mean anything from to 81
Vears