Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-09
V|STAS IN SCIENCE
By THOMAS R. HENRY
An OUTSTANDING Scientist Retires

atom or try to pin down the
elusive electron. wobble some
times in our basic faith that
natural events are determined
by unique causes, that from o
physical point Of view the
present fully determines the
past. We become confused as
to whether, when we include
ourselves as part of the system.
casualty is departed from. It
is becoming apparent that &C
ceptance Of any system Of
logic for reasoning about our
sensory experience is an act
of faith, for it is built on
premises which we accept
without proof or the possibility
Of proof.
"All we can measure, all we
can know exists, is a probable
ity Of its state. 1t now appears
that even in the accounts Of
the world which science con-
structs from experiment there
must be admitted an unpredic-
liability and a future which Is
indeterminate. Yet scientists
have built a magnificent struc-
ture of materialism, ranging
from a cosmos which has de-
veloped from a primeval ex-
plosion some billions Of years
ago to the mechanisms by
which a child learns to think.
Without a qualm, they view
the origin Of life on the planet
as the result merely Of the
appearance of self duplicating
molecules in an ancient soupy
sea.
With such a background we
view the universe from q
height. On the one hand we
contemplate the terrifying
spectacle of an unfolding ma
terial universe. Some six or
seven billions of years ago q
single giant molecule disrupted
and threw its substance into
space. There condensations Of
dust formed galaxies and then
stars in uncounted number,
rushing apart at StupendouS
velocities. On one planet Of
one star organic life began and
developed into man, endowed
with a passion for survival,
fighting all that stood in his
way. The same sort Of process
was probably under way stimuli
taneously on many other satel-
lites among the distant gal
aXieS.
Universe Running Down"
1.-THE whole universe is run
ming down. Extinction, individ-
ually and for the race, is the
only outcome. 1t is an mex
orable mechanical process in
which all the intricacy Of life
is but a glitter caused by an
interaction of primary parti-
Giles and energy, a fateful
dance of molecules and their
parts in which we are but a
minor accident.
But far from being impris-
oned in his world, man gazes
out across vast intervals of
space and time. Turning in
ward, he unravels the myster-
les of the minute components
of all matter and charts rela-
tons which enable him to
foretell the future. He has
risen in his best moments
above the mere struggle with
his environment and has
achieved a measure Of human
dignity - humble before the
vast mystery that surrounds
him, ever extending his vision
and comprehension; no longer
terrified by the unknown; con-
ident that what he has done
is only a beginning and that
to be a man with q mans
consciousness is important in
the drama he witnesses.
1T is a faith that makes us
look beyond tomorrow and ever
seek to know, because in some
mysterious way we realize that
only a small portion of the
road to knowledge has yet been
trod, that matters beyond our
present comprehension lie Just
around the bend, and that it
would be folly at any point
to abandon the journey into
skepticism without striving to
surmount the next obstacles"
On the way DR.. Bush pays
his respects to the man every
body who knows him knows he
hates worst. With hope he says:
The stuffed shirts among US
have dwindled almost to ex-
tinction."