The Wonder of the Cosmic Ray Problem for Science

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 20, 30 November 1928, Page 29

The Wonder of the Cosmic Ray Problem for Science

wees OUND, wireless, heat, m ei light, violet and X-rays fe; are together merely vili brations or movements » mM of the ether, the medi a ium which surrounds. us. They are "y no means separate phenomena, but only different varieties of the same species as a biologist would say. Whereas, sound waves travel from their point of origin at the rate of from 16 to 15,000 per second. X-rays leave at the amazing rate of 25 million billion (18 O’s). The penetrating power of these waves depends on thei speed. A deep note will not travel so far as a shrill note of the same intensity. Likewise, a white light can be seen farther than a dark red one. For this same reason short wave signals can be heard at a greater distance than long waves; X-ray has greater penetrating power than violet ray; and finally the newly-discovered cosmic ray has a speed and penetrating power that can only be estimated by hypothesis. —

The Power of the Cosmic Ray. THIS ray, or series of oscillations (vibrations), will penetrate 190ft. of water, or about 16 feet of lead, before dying out. This is double the penetrating power of. anyother wave previously known. The power of this ray before it has been toned down by: the atmosphere can only be imagined. Incidentally it adds another terror to anyone contemplating a trip to the moon, or anywhere else in space. Probably it would shrivel them up before they left the earth’s sphere of influence.

lts Origin. TS origin is a mystery. The earth was suspected, but it was found that the higher the altitude the stronger the ray. The sun was next put to the test. The ray was equally intense when the sun was overhead, sinking or set. The sun, then, has nothing to do with it, or at least no direct influence. Likewise, the planets and the Milky Way were tested but without avail. The mysterious super-ray holds its secret. The Possibilities. [t is interesting to speculate upori the possibilities of the ray. Poputil —

lay rumour ‘has it that someone may be examining us by means of this ray, in somewhat the same way as a photograph can be taken of a man in a pitch black room by means of the invisible infra-red ray, without. the man being aware of the fact at all. It is probable that the cosmic ray, or perhaps we should say the cause or creator of the ray, whatever, or whoever it is, is the most powerful force in existence. The ray is undoubtedly only the outward and visible sign of something quite appalling in the realm of force.

[HE ray, at its source, must be infinitely more powerful than light or heat rays on the hottest or most brilliantly-lit part of the earth’s surface, but it is doubtful whether the influence. on man would be the same. If the method of its creation were discovered man would have a means of communication that would require so little power that anyone could carry a transmitter with world-wide range in his pocket. With more powerful outfits inter-planetary communication would be possible. The principles of its reception would be. the same as wireless so that little adaptation would be’ necessary to convert the receiver of radio waves to the receiver of cosmic waves. If anything it would be more simple. Whether cosmic rays are created by an intelligence or merely by natural causes is at present causing much discussion. In some scientific circles it is

thought that the cosmic ray 1s created by direct encounter between the nuclii of atoms and high-speed electrons, but there are many other equally feasible explanations. -The atom theory is a popular one and some go so far as to suggest that in the distant future all our power will be harnessed from the decomposed atom. It is a well-known fact that the power in a pinch of salt is sufficient to steam at full pressure a great liner like the Leviathan across the Atlantic. Were the secret of breaking up the atom discovered our Civilisation would be revolutionised-but it has yet to be . done. Alarmists tell us that in some hundred years our coal supplies will be exhausted and our oil wells dried nerwe mar ene

up. What matter! by then, surely, we will be talking to Mars on cosmic rays and flying our aeroplanes. from a grain of dust !