Page 8 Advertisements Column 3

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 316, 23 December 1936, Page 8

SECRETS OF ATOM, RADIO-ACTIVITY RESEARCH. PROFESSOR FERMI’S WORK. Present-day research in artificial radio-activity will in the near future provide a deeper insight into- the dim mysteries of what goes on inside the atom, according to Professor Enrico Fermi, of the University of Rome, now directing research In physics al Columbia University’s summer ses* sion. Professor Fermi astonished scientists the world over during recent months when he announced discover; of a method of synthesizing a new "transuranic” element —producing the heaviest bit of matter ever known on Illis planet. This tall, when he returns to Rome, it will be to work in a newly-established laboratory fitted oul lor his special use at the university. There he and his colleagues will

carry on experiments intended to increase lhe number of radioactive elements and obtain larger quantities oj each. Costs More Than Radium. So far all radio activity produced iii laboratories has been imparted tc only infinitesimal quantities of elements and at a cost much higher thai the cost of radium. In this respecl Professor Fermi’s work is much like methods of extracting gold from sec water at a cost greater than the gole value.

“However, we have every hope tc reverse this situation with modern improved methods,” he said recently For the past two years Professoi Fermi and associates in Rome have been causing artificial radioactlvit] in substances not normally radioactive, by bombarding atoms will, neutrons. Neutrons are particles electrically neutral which appear to bt composed of a proton and an electron

closely bound together—perhaps thej are "collapsed hydrogen atoms,” some scientists suggest. Uranium Weighs Most. The experiments have been carried out on most of the 92 elements in the atomic scale, the sensation having been caused when such bombardment resulted in the production of a neu "93rd" element, higher Ilian any other in the atomic scale in which uranium reigns supreme as weightiest. Sometimes the bombarding neutrons knocked particles out of the atomis nuclei, causing a transmutation which produced a new element lower in the atomic scale. In other cases th* neutron was captured by the atom, as a bullet might remain in a target too thick to be penetrated. Such a capture produced an element heavier than the atom bombarded and would account for “Element No. 93.”

The product of bambardment, says Professor Fermi, was hi some cases an element which underwent a rapid series of transformations so as to reach final equilibrium in less than one billionth of a billionth of a second.

j Doesn’t Take Long. After this brief period of intense activity the new element became stable. Some experiments, on tiie other hand, produced an element , which continued to be radioactive for a considerable time, giving off beta and gamma radiations. French physicists, the Joliot-Curies, i were the first to make experiments in i tins field, bombarding atoms with alpha particles—four protons and two electrons closely bound together, i Professor Fermi chose neutrons be- ; cause they have no electric charge. I In the case of the Joliot-Curies’ ex- ; periments, bolh the alpha particle and the atomic nuclei were charged with positive electricity. But as two i positively charged particles repel each other, and as the distances between such infinitesimally small particles are relatively as far from each other as the stars, it is difficult for the ; alpha particle to hit the intended atom ' target. I The Italian researchists found that the neutron, being without electric I charge, is not repelled by the target and can reach even the heaviest nuclei. Professor Fermi places a source of fast neutrons, such as a mixture of radon and beryllium, in t j paraffin ball containing hydrogen, the l lightest element of all. The highpowered neutrons strike one hydrogex | atom after another, bouncing awai : from each other and losing much o': 1 their speed in this ricocheting movement. I

I When the “target” to be made I radioactive is dipped into the con- ’ tainer the slow-moving neutrons bom- ■ bard it with far greater efficiency than would faster neutrons. Professor Fermi tested some 60 elements and i found that 40 were transformed by slow-moving neutrons. This is the largest number yet transformed bj any scientist.

More Dogs Than Babies , } CROYDON WOMEN SAID IQ PREFER PETS More accidents are caused by dogs at Croydon than in any other town in England. That is tire Claim. And this is the reason, as given by a member of the local Highways Committee: — “Croydon women nowadays apparently prefer dogs to babies.” On an average 20 dogs are run over in Croydon every month. The town council, it is stated, may shortly be asked to pass a by-law to prevent dogs running about the streets. “Dogs are becoming a real nuisa®oa in this town,” said a committee-man to the Daily Sketch. “Practically every ; woman in the town takes a dog witli I her when she goes shopping—they ap- ! patently prefer them to babies.” The Mayor of Croydon. Alderman vi - - 1 tliui Peters, agreed that the mortality s among dogs in the town was high, but he would not commit himself as to whether Croydon women would really rather have a dog than a baby. i “OEAVER” is the only sauce I dare ! give father. Tomato and Worces- ! ter. Real appetisers. New Zealand- ’ made.