END OF THE WORLD

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 96, 27 April 1929, Page 20

END OF THE WORLD

WHEN THE SUN EXPLODES

Einstein's latest theory that tho universe is finite, is-not regarded as the last word in science by the leading Swedish astronomer, Professor Lundjmark. In a recent interview in a 'Stockholm newspaper,' Dr. Lundmark added that during his work o" registering and cataloguing about 130,000 nebnlosae, or every thirtieth of all known ones; he bad'come to the conclusion that there was an endless succession of Milky Ways, or huge stellar systems, although- the astronomic telescopes could not catch them. In fact, the power of the telescope almost seemed to have reached its maximum limit, as well as the human ability of grasping this infinite series of celestial systems. As.:regards.our own planet, the earth, its career is rather humiliating, the Professor humorously remarked, first having been- looked upon- as the centre of everything, then being reduced to a satellite of'tlie-'sun, which in its turn was later oiv discovered to be a tiny part of the Milky Way system, and now the Milky Way is found to be only a . section of a group,- the members of which, according to' Certain laws, maintain a . fixed distance ; between each other. ''■■'■•■'. The question of how the earth will perish Professor ; Lundmark answered by saying that when such a thing happens, it will be. due to an explosion in the gas ball, -which is called the sun, an explosion which will last only 24 hours, and put an end to an existence of more than 1000 millions of years. Parallels to such a phenomenon aro frequently seen when new stars flash up and disappear. The sun will probably then, within a few millions of years, again contract and then once more perhaps giyo- rise, to;. a now culture. . '..■..■,:..■'.,.'.

A fine pheasant was seen in a tree in the Chapel Royal churchyard the other day, -within sight o£ the buses passing through the Strand.