Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-16

There have been hints of
brought to a head by announce
least theoretical, of right and left
spinning atoms. or two equa
and opposite forms of matter
which can be detected at tenn
peratureS less than a 10th of a
gree above absolute zero. This
is the point where all molecular
motion stops and there is only
the internal motion of atoms
themselves.
Much of the experimental work
on which the new theory-zwhich
is compared in the Columbia re-
lease as possibly equivalent to
the original Einstein theory OF
almost a half century ago-was
done at the low temperature
laboratory of the U. S. Bureau
Of Standards here.
This is one of the world centers
for work in this field.
Semi Mystical Wonderland
This realm of extreme low
temperature is the first of the
up-to-now semi-mystical won
derhnds. 1t is a realm where, il
has, been known for some time
some of the apparently absolute
laws of physics are suspended or
reversed. Low temperature re-
search has been In progress for
40 years with physicists getting
closer and closer to the absolute
zero-minus As 60 fahrenheit
which apparently never can be
completely attained.
The second realm is vastly
more fantastic-that of negative
matter. This is matter whose
atoms are composed of nuclei
made up of particles the size
Of protons which are negatively
and not positively charged and
particles the size of electrons
which are positively and not
negatively charged-the precise
opposite Of any matter known
on earth up to a few months ago
Philosophically, at least. the
significance is very great indeed
If one negative atom were tc
come into contact with one
positive, or ordinary atom. they
would completely annihilate each
other. There would be a hardly
imaginable titanic release Of
energy-at least a thousand
times. weight for weight. of the
energy released in a hydrogen
bomb.
A few months ago at the Uni
versity of California the actual
existence of the so-called mega
irons, or negative protons was
demonstrated. Existence of posi-
tive electrons. or POSITIONS. has
been known for some years.
Alarmist Predictions
Immediately there we're alarm
Est predictions. Combination
of masses of negative and posi-.
tive matter the size Of tennis
balls might mean the end of the
world. Fortunately there is ne
known way in which man evei
can assemble such masses OF
bring them together. Some day
however, he may.
In the latest report Of astron-
omers of the Carnegie Institu-
ton of Washington theoretical
considerations were cited to in
dictate that in this universe
the universe of billions of star
galaxes reaching to the wall OF
creation where they are retreat
ing from each other at the speed
of llght-there was less than q
millionth as much negative a:
positive matter. Even so it was
credited as the possible cause
of the titanic star explosions
known as super.novac where in
a fraction Of a second a star like
the sun apparently is completely
disintegrated.
Galaxies Of stars in this uni
verse crash into each other. This
may even be a frequent event.
There Is a philosophical con
ception, which seems generally tt
hold true, that everything i
paired in creation. The Carnegie
report seemed to give some as
surance that a galaxy Of com
p!etely negative matter would no
cash into a positive matte
galaxy, like the Milky Way. will
the complete disintegration o
both.
Biblical DOOmsday
But there may be other com
plete creations, some made vi
completely Of negative matterK