BENEATH THE STREETS OF LONDON ATOMIC ENERGY IS BEING STUDIED

Chronicle (Levin), 10 March 1948, Page 6

BENEATH THE STREETS OF LONDON ATOMIC ENERGY IS BEING STUDIED

A new research station, where scientis'ts are examining the b'ehaviour of atomic energy, has been set-' up beneath thestreets of London.

The work is being directed by the hea-d of the Cosmic Ray Research Group of Birkbeck College, Dr. George. He has recently completed similar experiments 12,000 feet above sea level on the Jungfrau Mountain. This team of British experts are devoting particular attention to the hard components of cosmic rays called mesons, which penetrate the • earth's surfape. Soft cofhponents khown as pliotons and electrohs. are absorbed by.the earth's crust, but neitheh London pavements noa:

the 100 feet of clay above the research centre can check, the mesons. They are being detected by special instruments called Geiger counters, whose hourly readings are automatically photographed, It is hoped that these experiments will indicate whether cosmic radiation beneath the earth is affecte'd by the same fa'ctors. as at sea level. There it varies in intensity according to' atmospheric conditions as >well as the magnetic state of the earth and, sun.