Evening star., 1949-08-26
Stars, Men and Atoms
Explosion on Suns Face
Reported by Scientists
Stream of Radiation Waves Analysed
In Bureau of Standards Report
Rv Thomns X. Henr

By Thomas X. Henry
An unparalleled explosion on the face OF
the sun has just been reported by United
States Bureau of Standards scientists.
From an area which consisted of less than
one two -thousandths of the solar disc came
a stream of radiation waves from 800 to 200
times greater than normally would be re.
ceived from the entire sun.
The activity in this small region must have
been about two million-fold the average
activity of such an area on the suns flaming
surface.
The great eruption occurred on May 10
and since has been analyzed, according to
the report of Drs. A. M. Shapley and r. M.
Davis of the bureau staff
Observed in Virginia.
The observations were made at the bu-
reau's field station at Sterling, Va. At the
same time the flare was observed visually at
the McMath- Hubert Observatory in Michi-
gan, where it was reported as of extraor-
binary intensity.
The eruption was observed by means Of
two radio wave lengths which crossed the
SO 100000 miles Of empty space between sun
and earth. These were picked up by the
bureaus receiving instruments in the form
of what is known as solar noise.
creased radiation from this limited area
covered the entire spectrum from the long
radio waves through the region of visible
light to the short ultraviolet and X-ray wave
lengths. There was a great variation, how.
ever, in the intensity of various wave lengths.
the solar noise recorded by receiver set
for one range being about fourfold that
set for a shorter wave length.
Such flares also are believed to be ac-
companied by great streams of actual
material particles-electrons, protons and
nuclei of atoms-which are hurled against
the outer atmosphere of the earth and are
in part responsible for magnetic storms and
disruption Of long range radio communica-
ton by strengthening the atmospheric elec-
trical roof
The extremely intense solar noise was
received for about three minutes.
Pigments originally extracted from butter
fly wings and since found widely distributed
in nature in almost immeasurably minute
amounts may be an important element in
nutrition and the prevention of anemias.
They are known as the "pterins." They
range in color from dark velvet-brown to
blue-violet.
Isolation of these pigments from the
tubercle bacillus and from diphtheria germs
has just been reported by Drs. M. O. Grove
and A. F. Walker of the New York State
Health Department. There is strong impli-
cation that they are essential materials in
the complex chemistry of life.
Some years ago German workers extracted
these pigments from the wings of million
butterflies and were able to isolate several
varieties. The amounts obtained from the
tubercle bacillus were so small that it was
impossible to compare them directly with
these.
Found Located in Cells.
The apparent wide distribution of these
pigments. according to the report to the
American Association for the Advancement
OF Science here. leads to the thesis that they
eventually may be of considerable medical
Importance. They have been found localized,
for example, in certain cells in the lining of
the stomach and the intestines which also
are sources of the new vitamin BIZ, which
not only is powerful growth substance, but
also appears to be the primary material
in liver which arrests anemia.
Studies have been made by other workers,
it is reported. on the value of the pterins
themselves in anemia treatments and in
nutrition, but these must be repeated and
extended before their clinical Importance
can be determined. Insect wings might be
an important source Of the materials, which
are very resistant to chemical analysis.
The localization leads to strong supposi.
ton that there may be some relationship
between the pterinS and the pernicious
anemia factor, or that one may have some
thing to do with the bodys synthesis Of
the other