ANSWER TO RIDDLE OF THE UNIVERSE?

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 145, 15 March 1939, Page 9

ANSWER TO RIDDLE OF THE UNIVERSE?

Einstein’s New Discovery (Received March 14, 7.30 p.m.) PRINCETON, March 14. Professor Albert Einstein, on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday, announced the discovery of a possible solution to the problem of the cause of gravitation, and its connexion with electricity, matter and magnetism. This may prove a possible clue to the long-sought single law which will make clear the structure of the universe.

The term gravitation as used in physical science deals with the mutual attraction between masses of matter. But what the cause is of that attraction remains undiscovered. Newton’s Law of Gravitation laid it down that every particle of matter in the universe attracts _ every other particle with a force depending on the mass of the bodies concerned and their distance from each other. Henry Cavendish, continuing an experiment begun by the Rev. John Mitchell, demonstrated 150 years ago that two masses exert a pull on each other, his apparatus consisting mainly of two round objects an inch or two in diameter connected by a stiff wooden beam suspended at its middle point by a long fine wire. The attracting masses consisted of two equal massive lead spheres so mounted that they could be moved about the suspended objects. Cavendish found that the suspended system was never at rest. Later experimenters confirmed the accuracy of these results.

Attempts have been made to account for gravitation by means of stress in tne intervening medium on the plan adopted for electric and magnetic forces. Calculation shows that the stress that must be supposed to exist in the invisible medium must be 3000 times as great as that winch even strong steel could support. In fact theories advanced by scientists to account for gravitation imply the existence of stresses or the presence, ot stores of energy absolutely gigantic in comparison with anything hitherto observed in the universe. Hie great Newton said it was inconceivable that inanimate brute matter,” as he-termed it, should without the mediation of something else that is not material, operate on and affect other matter without mutual C °lf J professor Einstein has indeed found the solution to this contentious problem it will be a momentous discovery. 1’ rom earliest times it had been vaguely recognized that an attraction existed between all material particles. .... Newton in 1606 had his thoughts dirented to this phenomenon by the falling of an apple (according to Voltaire) and, though many brilliant men have devoted time and money to its solution, the problem remains.