Evening star., 1951-01-01
Earth Has Double Face,
Latest Findings Show,
Surface Masks Underground
Himoluyos and Suhorus

Surface Masks Underground ii
HimoIuyos and Sohorus r
By Thomas R. Henry
Earth has double face
It's surface of mountains, plains and
ocean depths is like stone mask over
subterranean Himalayas and Saharas.
This finding has just been announced
by scientists Of the Terrestrial Magnet
ism Laboratory Of the Carnegie Institu-
ton. 1t greatly changes concepts previ-
ously held on the nature Of the planets
surface as layer Of light rock about Is
miles thick over relatively smooth ball
Of heavier rock.
The previous idea was based on the
speed Of earthquake waves which
changed abruptly at the so-called
"Moherovicic discontinuity, supposedly
dividing line between crustal and basic
rocks. Carnegie investigators have found
during the last few months that the
speed of earthquake waves and waves
set up by explosions do not check over
relatively short distances.
Two layers are found. One is from
four to six miles thick Below this is
q AdyOA Va AONh dbO0G LIllCks
Both earthquake and shock waves move
at different speeds through these layers.
The significant finding, however. was Of
the roughness of the bottom surface of
the top layer. This indicates that the
underlying layer must have an extremely
rough top surface with vast underground
plains and mountain ranges
Great differences in explosion wave
SDpedS fnllY1H in ra0innc oh
miles apart
The error in the past, it is explained
in the Carnegie report, doubtless was
due to placing too much reliance on the
speed OF earthquake waves over great
distances with local variations smothered
in averages.
The full implications Of the discovery
have not been calculated but, it is en-
phasized it may change all present con-
ceptions of the structure Of continents
and the role Of radioactive heat from
the earth's interior in their formation.
The worlds first cobalt machine" n
bit Of the metallic element cobalt less
than two inches square and an inch,
thick which will provide radiations
equivalent to those of million volt
X-ray machine. now is being constructed
for the Oak Ridge laboratory Of the
Atomic Energy Commission.
This tiny bit Of metal, quite similar
to nickel and ordinarily quite inert, is
being transformed into a lump Of a
radioactive isotope at the Canadian
atomic energy plant at Chalk River.
Ontario-tran1formed by irradiation with
neutrons in uranium pile.
1t Is expected to require about five
years to transmute the entire lump into
the radio active form. Then it is ex-
pected to last about five years. Mean
while. second lump will be irradiated
at Chalk River and be ready to replace
the original. This again will be placed
In the pile so that there will be O.
constant rotation. -
The cobalt machine" will be suitable
for about any Of the uses now made Of
X-ray apparatus or of external applica-
tions of radium itself. It will be equiv
alent to approximately $500 grams Of
radlum. a good part of the worlds
supply The estimated cost is only about
100000.
Early In the atomic energy program
it was recognized that the radioactive
form OF cobalt which emitted about the
same kind of radiation as radium ITSELF
was potentially one of the most val1able
by-products and for the last four years
there has been much experimentation to
determine proper dosages and side
effects =,
Meanwhile, an alloy of cobalt called
cobamic has been devised It is about
half cobalt and half nickel. It has the
advantage Of being extremely ductile
and can be machined into almost any
desired shape. From it can be produced
radioactive thread for use in surgery
and radiation producing seeds which can
be ftted into almost any type of
maligant tumor wherever located.
These developments were described at
recent meeting of Naval Medical
Center personnel dealing with the
progress of atomic medicine.
Among the notable Developments of
the near future. it was reported, may
be the return of radioactive phosphorus
in the treatment of various type Of
leukemia. A few years ago these seemed
to offer the greatest promise of all the
atomic drugs"
Rapidly, however, it fell into disfavor
and now is used only for one type Of
blood disease, rapid increase in red
cells. 1t. however, is coming back into
favor and the latest studies are indicat-
Ing that an average of more than q
year can be added to the life of O.
victim of Emphatic leukemia, one of
the most prevalent kinds, over treatment
with X-ray radiation.