Milford chronicle., 1950-01-06

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tempts to explain in one basic law
everything that goes on everywhere,
from the inside of one tiny atom to
the limits of the universe.
Gravitation has been one of sci
ence's greatest mysteries. It is gravity
which keeps humans from floating of
the earth. It is gravity which keeps the
earth and other planets revolving in
the same paths about the sun.
Mathematical Formula
Like relativity, Einstein's new the
ory is expressed in involved mathe-
maticS, incomprehensible to the aver
age man. Indeed, no physicist at the
Institute of Advanced Study at Prince
ton, N. J., where Einstein has been
working, is yet willing to talk public
ly about the new theory.
The theory still has to be put to
test, to see whether it covers all
known observations about the ways
that matter, energy and gravitation
react These tests. may take years.
zEinstein's theory Of RELATIVELY in
1915 described gravitation more COM
pletely than any theory ever had
before. 1t was six years before scien-
lists discovered that one Of Einstein's
predictions in that theory was right.
A 3O-Year Project
At times before in his sO-year re-
search, Einstein has worked out
promising leads to a common prin-
ciple that would explain both electro
magnetic forces and gravitational
force, but each time there was some
flaw.
Einstein has been quoted as saying
this theory is highly convincing"
but that there are still mathematical
problems to be solved before a prac-
tical way is found to test it.
The Einstein theory was reported
last week at the general meeting Of
the American Association for the Ad-
vancement of Science. This six-day
convention is one of the worlds larg-
est scientific forums.
Tanning the Atom
Another development which NAV
lead to astounding benefits for man
kind was report on the progress Of
American scientists in their attempts
to harness the power of the atom for
peace. One of the first great steps is
getting the cost Of uranium fuel down
somewhere near the cost of coal.
This new uranium fuel now can be
produced at cost varying between
$4,000 to $25,000 pound-the equiva-
lent Of coal at about $40 a ton. This
equation results from the fact that
one pound of Uranium-235, the atomic
fuel, contains as much heat as 1000
tons of coal.
Gaseous Diffusion
Statistics on cost were given by DR..
John R. Dunning, Columbia Univer-
sity physicist, one of the chief scien-
lists at the wartime Oak Ridge, Tenn,
plant which now produces Uranium
235 by a process known as gaseous
diffusion.
Although the wartime Oak Ridge
plant was the biggest single prsduc-
ton structure in the world, the us.
Atomic Energy Commission has since
built a second diffusion plant and is
now building third.
DR.. Dunning predicted scientists
will discover better and cheaper ways
of producing atomic power. He de-
clared: "When uranium fission con-
verts only one part in a thousand Of
mass into energy, we certainly have
plenty of room for some faith in the
future and some new ideas and dis
coveries."
Russia Plans Electric Power
Also last week, a Soviet scientist
declared on Radio. Moscow that Rus
sia will use its first atomic power
plant to generate electricity.
Gleb Maximilianovich Krzhizhs
knovsky, a member of the Soviet
Academy Of Sciences, said Russia in.
tends to create & single high voltags
system to electrify the whole country.