COSMIC RAYS

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 September 1946, Page 2

COSMIC RAYS

SHORT-CUT TO ATOMIC ENERGY DEVELOPMENT DR. MARSDEN’S REPORT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 21. “Cosmic rays may be a short cut to the development of atomic energy and be a less expensive means than the present machine methods,” said Dr. E. Marsden, secreteary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, who returned to Wellington yesterday after attending important scientific conferences in the United Kingdom. “The- study of cosmic rays, which have high energy particles capable of producing atomic disintegration, has entered the atomic energy field,” Dr. Marsden said. “Extraordinary and vital results have emerged from American experiments.” There were two ways in which atomic energy could be studied, said Dr. Marsden. The first was with the use of very high voltage artificial electrical machines. The second was by the study of ready-made highenergy cosmic rays, and this promised to be the less expensive road of development. It was being examined by an important British scientific school.

Dr. Marsden expressed the opinion that, while atomic energy would not make hydro-electric power obsolete, it would undoubtedly be used in a supplementary way, as the time would come when water power would be insufficient for future requirements.