Evening star., 1951-01-31
Atomic

Atomic
Continued From First Page.)
up OF creation disappeared within
a few generations of the begin
ming. The astatine nucleus con-
tains eight more neutrons than
the gold nucleus. Hitherto trans
mutations have been by only one
or two units in the atomic table.
In the same way aluminium has
been transmitted into chlorine.
Potentialities Displayed.
These transmutations them
selves are of little significance,
except as showing the potentiali-
ties of the new atomic super
artillery.
There are now six trans-uranic
elements, none of which existed
before the start of the atomic
bomb project. Production of two,
neptunium and plutonium, made
possible the atomic bomb itself.
These were relatively simple. They
may, in fact. have existed at the
start of creation and persisted in
inflnitesimal quantities. up to the
present. The four new ones can
hardly have existed in nature at
any time and the amounts it has
been possible to produce are so
small that very little is known Of
their properties One of them,
curium, is SO hot that radium is
comparatively an inert metal. It
constantly glows from the ex-
plosions of its atoms. Berkelium
and californian should be much
hotter.
Middle Elements Split.
The second major accomplish
ment was the fission, splitting in
two or more pieces, of the middle
elements in the atomic table, cop
per, silver, bromine and gallium.
A few years ago physicists had
declared this impossible. BY this
means copper has been trans
muted into chlorine. The specific
accomplishment may be of little
practical Importance at this time
but whole field of research in
atomic-splitting is thrown open.
One of Natures most stubborn
barriers has been hurdled.
The first session was that of
uranium in 1899, leading directly
to the atomic bomb. 1t so hap
pened that this was the easiest
of all atoms to split and much of
the progress since has been in the
quite different process of spalla-
ton. splitting chips of atomic
nuclei, rather than splitting them
down the middle.
Biological and medical aspects
of the atomic program now are
being stressed, it was reported,
with a $25 million hospital and
laboratory construction program
under way. Approximately half
was completed at the end of the
year. Studies under way are con-
cerned not only with the poison
GUS effects of radiation, but with
blast and burn injuries.
Two new exploding elements
which may prove of value in med
icine were announced One is
radioactive ruthenuium produced
in atomic piles which can deliver
extremely powerful but non-pene-
trating radiation to surface can
Ger without injuring tissues un-.
derneath. Second is radioactive
manganese which may have some
advantages over radioactive iodine
in treatment of thyroid gland
tumorS.
A method is being developed, it
was announced for treatment of
deep-seated cancers with radio
active cobalt, the radiation of
which is similar to that of radium.
This radiation will be directed at
a specific spot directly over the
site of the cancer.
1t will be possible to give single
dose equivalent to that which
could be produced by two thirds
the worlds supply of refined ra-
dium.
Two Machines Abuilding.
Two atom smashing machines of
unparalleled power now are un-
der production. One. the Cevetron
at the University of California,
will propel atomic particles with
energies of from billion to 7
billion electron volts, comparable
to the energies of cosmic rays. A
similar machine, the cosmotron,
is being constructed at the Brook
haven laboratory of the commits
sion. 1t will produce energies of
about 2.5 billion electron volts.
The commission is now operat-
ing, as far as possible, through
contracts with responsible private
firms, it was explained at a press
conference. but contracts neces-
sarily are largely confined to non-
secret material. 1t is planned
to expand the private contract
system as rapidly as possible.