Evening Star Newspaper, February 18, 1927, Page 12

UNIVERSE SLOWLY DISSOLVING INTO LIGHT, SCIENTIST HOLDS Dr. Arthur Haas of Vienna Describes Power of Atom in Lecture to Organizations Here. The universe—the sun and all the | millions of fixed stars—slowly solving into light. and there i evidence upon which to base the sumption that light in its turn is dergoing a retransformation into ter, thus forming the elementar: stance of new stars and solar This was the statement of thur Haas, professor of physics a University of Vienna, in an address | last night at the Cosmos Club before the Washington Academy of Sciences | and the Philosophical Society of Wash- ington. The fact that luminous matter is Jostng its substance, Dr. Haas said, has en observed by astronomers during the past three years, and the rBte at which the sun, for example, is | dissolving into light can be computed | etactly by the Einstein theory. | Rebirth of Matter Probable. Thus far, however, there has been means of observing directly the re- Irth of matter from light. But this| @ppears probable, he said, from the Crompton effect discovered about two Years ago by a professor at the Uni- versity of Chicago, and may take place when light quanta enter a field of swiftly moving particles or electrons and become atomic nuclei. Dr. Haas spoke on “The Atom as a Source of Energy.” At present, he said, there seems no practical way to utilize the enormous forces bound up in the atom, although a start may have been made by successful experiments in Germany this winter by which small quantities of helium were built up from hydrogen, thus achleving a transmutation of the elements. Dr. Haas illustrated the possibilities by describing the atom of the simplest form of matter, hydrogen, which con- sists of one positively charged elec- tric particle around which revolves at enormous speed one negatively charged particle. The whole hydrogen atom is one ten-millionth of a milli- meter in diameter, and of this whole mass the negatively charged particles represent only 1 1847. The hydrogen atoms in a cubic centimeter, he said, if arranged like a rope of pearls would be several times longer than one of the transcontinental railroads. Speed Controls Particle. 'The negatively charged particle is kept from falling into the positively charged nucleus precisely as the earth is kept from falling into the sun—by the enormous speed of its revolutions. It probably moves at the rate of 2,188 kilometers a second, a million times the speed of the fastest express train. Now the simplest form of matter after hydrogen is helium, whose atomic structure is that of four posi- tively charged nucleli and four elec- trons. But, Dr. Haas expldins, the ‘weight of an atom of helium is eight- tenths of 1 per cent less than the ‘welght of four atoms of hydrogen. As- suming the former to have been built up from the latter, there has been a loss of mass, doubtless due to trans- formation into energy, somewhere in the process which, if the transmuta- tion could be worked at will, would solve the world's power problems. The energy liberated by the transmutation of a single gram of hydrogen into a g:‘m of helium, Dr. Haas said, would equivalent to the energy produced by the combustion of 20 tons of coal. Another manifestation of atomic energy which has heen observed is that due to the c:®ing off of alpha les—each separate nucleli of lum atoms. This is a case where are transmuting themselves. particles are cast off at the rate of from 15,000 to 20,000 kilometers a seoond. It was the observation of peculiar actions of the element lum which led to the promulgation | synthesis of one gram of helium from - Ty -| Haas 'said, suffers a loss of mass . [ which can be -| Emittance of heat or energy equiva- 4 in efficiency, Dr. Haas said. The eénergy released by the hydrogen would be equivalent to 000,000 liter calories. ry body giving off energy. Dr. calculated exactly. lent to one liter calorie lessens the total mass one-twenty-millionth of a milligram. Thus it has been calcu- lated that the sun eradicates every second heat sufficient to raise 10,000,- 000,000,000,000,000 gallons of water from freezing to boiling point. At this rate the sun in 10,000,000 years will have lost one-miliionth of its mass. Only Scratch on Surface. It can hence be calculated how much energy is inherent in a gram; that is, the amount that it could give off before it would lose its mass. Dr. | Haas said that the upper limit ap- pears to be 20,000,000,000 liter calories for a single gram—sufficient power to lift 10 times all the houses in Wash- ington higher than the Washington Monument. Thus, even the synthesis of hellum, if it could be made practical, would still only scratch the surface of the utilization of atomic energy—produc- ing only eight-tenths of 1 per cent of the maximum energy available, And even this eight-tenths of 1 per cent would be equivalent for 1 gram to the maximum energy producible by burning 20 tons of coal. This loss of mass by radiation and the enormous figures of atomic energy, Dr. Haas said, explain the continued heat of the sun over billions of years. Some day it will have sent out all its mass in the form of light, but this still is a development of billions of years in the future. Unknown Transmutation at Work. If the sun were a mass of burning matter, such as anthracite, Dr. Haas said, it would have burned out in 2,000 years. If it were composed of uranium shooting out atomic particles, it would lose half of its energy in 500,000,000 years. But even this figure is extreme- ly small compared to the time the sun has been shining, apparently with heat little diminished. Hence the explanation is that, in some manner unknown and undu- | plicable on earth, the matter of the sun is being transformed into energy, or light, with full efficlency. The|- planetary electron of hydrogen must revolve around its nucleus at the rate of 2,188 kilometers a second to over- come the attraction which is pulling it into the central body. If in some way this is overcome and the two particles plunge into each other, the enormous energy is released. The effect has been observed, Dr. Haas said, by astronomers in calcu- lating the careers of the fixed stars. They have been able to trace the life story of suns from infancy, through adolescence, middle age and old age. Our sun, he said. now is approaching old age—but an old age which will last for billions of years. Stars Live 10,000,000,000,000 Years. All the stars during their life lose the greater part of their mass. The; have a duration of about 10,000,000, 000,000 years. But the question still remains open as to whether light can become mat- ter again—being transmuted first into hydrogen atoms and these evolving in turn over enormous extents of time into all the other forms of mat- ter. - Light itself, Dr. Haas explained, has a sort of atomic structure repre- sented by the quanta. From mathe- matical calculations, he said, it would appear that light rays would be trans- formed into matter only in cases of the original theory of planetary Compares Coal and Radium, Dr. Haas {llustrated the greatness bt the energydth;u rflellened by com‘i paring a pound of radium to a poun of coal. The former would produce in a few hours the same amount of heat as would be produced by burn- ing the coal. But the coal would be reduced to smoke and ashes, incap- able of producing any more heat. ‘The radium could continue the pro- cess day after day for 20 years and only 1 per cent of its total mass. other words a pound of radium ‘would be 500,000 times more efficient as a heat producer than a pound of coal. Eventually the radium would te into lead and be no l':mge.r capable of producing much eat. ‘These two methods of utilization of @tomio energy—synthesis of helium and natural disintegration of radium Start His C womanhood. Perhaps that a fund will be avail i{s to set aside a few dol ning now. Place the money with the National Per smanent, where, in addition to safety, the generous earnings will compound Subsequent payments may be Mailed if more con- wvenient, the Association remailing your credited book back to you—or retaining it—as desired. NATIONAL PERMANENT BUILDING A SSOCIATION UNDER SUPERVISION OF THE U. 5. 020 9 Street, N'W, 35 We Pay at Least 5% Interest { The young child soon grows to manhood or where they had very high frequency and this seems possible when they enter a field of rapidly moving particles. Dr. Haas emphasized that sclence is still only at the beginning of its work with atoms and that it is im- pessible to predict what wonders may come as the secrets are learned one after another. Following the line of least resistance Is what makes rivers and men crooked. “TRAVEL MONEY” AT THE FEDERAL-AMERICAN World-Wide Banking Service Ame,ican Bankers soien., Cheques olleg’e Fund the best way to be sure able for higher education llars each month—Dbegin- to a splendid total. TREASURY it THE EVENING STAR; WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1927. The Hecht Co. Sale of /$2, $2.50 and Read and digest this news. 1,500 shirts taken right outy\of our own regular stocks. Shirts that were 50 to 100 per cent higher. If some of your favorite shirts are showing signs of disintegration, don’t worry. Their duplicates, or equals, are in this Shirts of Radsium Broadcloth Shirts of Woven -Madras Shirts of Colored- Broadcloth Shirts of White Oxford Shirts with Collars attached Shirts with Collars to match Shirts with - g Neckband only Shirts for Sports wear Shirts for Daily wear Shirts for Better wear Neckband style shirt of woven madras. Heretofore they have sold for $35, $37.50 and $40 & | )| Four out of five customers who flocked to aitr recent sale of Sheldon Suits at $23, \/ | -asked us when we would have a sale of Sheldon Overcoats. So, this is the sale for which you have been waiting. A clearance of 196 Sheldon Overcoats from our own stocks, augmented by an almost equal number from the makers of Sheldon Clothes, to fill out broken size ranges. Instead of being compelled to carry them on our inven- tory till next Winter, we prefer to lower the price to make it worth your, while to do so. Many men will consider it a good investment to exchange $25 for overcoat smartness during the many weeks of snappy weather still ahead . . .. and then put it away for another season’s wear. There are 400 coats in the sale, that offer 400 additional good reasons for buying now. The size range is from 33 to 46, so that every man can be fitted, especially when alterations, may be had without extra charge. (Second Floor, The Heeht Co.) sale. Because, this is an all-inclusive sale. Because, here you will find materials far bet- ter than you’d expect at $1.88. Because, the colors and the styles well dressed men are wearing are included. These are just a few of the reasons you should be here at 9:15 in the morning. Sizes 1314 to 18. Washington’s Most Beautiful Department Store (Main Floor, The Hecht Ce.) \¢ White oxford shirt, attached collar, Blue striped shirt, neckband it imported English Colored importe ng stylc dic g Shirt of figured broadcloth, broadcloth, $1.88. $1.88. Clearance of Men’s $4 and $5 Sweaters $1.95 Choice of navy, maroon brown and several heather colors For early Spring days and cool evenings, what do you need more than a sweater? Jacket sweaters to wear with or without a coat. Shaker or slip- over sweaters, all are in this sale, in a good as- sortment of sizes. (Main Floor, The Hecht O».) DELION CORD TIRES Our own famous tires with the 10,000- mile guarantee. Never before have De- lion Cords been sold at these low prices. Equip your car with Delion balloon or high pressure tires, and forget all your tire troubles. Mounted while you wait, without charge. 30x3Y, Oversize Delion Cord Tires for Ford and Chevrolet 88.95 33x4Y;—$2595 3424%—$2695 33:5 —$3398 3525 —$3695 31sé 31695 3204 31795 33sé 1895 32:4%—$2495 Balloon Prices 29944031095 3025.77—$22.95 3054.75—$1595 3257182695 29549581695 32x6.00—826.95 3054.95—$18.95 3326.00—526.95 30552552095 3226.20—529.95 3152582195 (8 Shop—Main Floor PO he Hecht o) $3 Shirts [ Fvery shirt is cut | amply full, with a well-tailored, well- fitting neckband Striped madras shirt, neck- band style,