Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-16
By FRANK CAREY
associated Press science Repeater

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Associated Press Science Repeater
GENEVA, Aug. 16. The
United States told the world In
detail today how, to make high
purity uranium metals basic
material for atomic energy proc
duction-on a large scale and at
low cost.
The operational technique was
described at the 70 : nation
atoms-for-peace conference by
DR.. H. A. Wilhelm of the United
States Atomic Energy Commits
sion's contract laboratory at
Iowa State College.
He said the description was
intended to be detailed enough
to allow uranium metal pro-
ducers in any country of the
world to duplicate the process.
DR.. Wilhelm said the process
involved mixing uranium COM
pound uranium tetraf1uoride--
with magnesium metal and plac-
ing the mixture in q furnace to
initiate q reduction" reaction
leading to the production Of
uranium metal itself.
Uranium metal, as distin-
guished from raw uranium ore,
is the basic material of atomic
energy production for both
peaceful and military uses.
DIR. Wilhelm limited that the
method he described played thu
key role in the wartime produc.
ton Of the metal for the atom
bomb.
In another report to the con.
ference. three Russian scientist,
described q method Of deter.
mining simultaneously the con.
tent Of uranium, thorium ant
Iradium In ores and rocks. Thu
procedure was described as /
possible aid to prospectors ant
professors.
As described By researcher d
n Golbek, the method involves
Ia kind Of step-by-step measure.
Iment Of two kinds of radiation
given on BY rocks containing til,
three elements. The tl1oriur
and radium content Is differen,
ltiated first and then the liran.
Iium determined.
Photosynthesis Problem
Another American scientist
lDr. NJ. Calvin Of the Uniyersit,
LOT California at Berkeley. re.
ported Q major advance TOWARD
solving and duplicating til,
process Of photosynthesis-lia.
lures method Of supplying foos
to the world.
Dr.. Calvin said he and his az.
sociates had identified an th,
steps In one Of two stages b,
which green plants under sun.
light convert water and carbon
dioxide into foodstuffs. He sait
they had detected every stage b
the process by which carbon di.
oxide is reduced to form carlo.
hydrates sugars and starches
Soviet scientists told the con,
ference, last week they belieyI
they are on the verge OF solvinI
the mystery OF photosynthesis
The Russian said they hav,
used radioactive isotopes q,
ltracers In plant studies and hay,
learned q number Of things abou1
the process.
Dr.. Calvin said the process re.
naming TO be solved Is how
solar energy Is absorbed By chic.
rophyll or how the green pig.
ment Of plants Is used to asplit'
molecules Of water to suppl,
hydrogen needed 10 reduce
carbon dioxide.
He said q new theory regard.
ing that process was that a kint
Iof battery" exists within
plants. Scientists theorize thi,
battery is made Of layers o,
Ichlorophyll between microscop.
ically thin layers Of fat anc
protein. he said, and this alb.
serbs sunlight and uses it t.
split the water.
Scientists have long sought
the secret Of photosynthesis II
the hope Of duplicating it artif-
ically TO increase the worlds
food supply.
The conference heard q sol
emn warning yesterday that
hereditary damage from radia-
ton is potentially the most
dangerous Of al problems &C
companying the extensive use
OF atomic energy.
Leading experts in the field
OF genetics agreed that the pres
~ H. d.