RADIO ACTIVITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15701, 31 August 1914, Page 3

RADIO ACTIVITY.

SIR E. RUTHERFORD'S VIEWS.

DREAMS OF THE FUTURE.

LATENT ATOMIC ENERGY.

Ttte subject of radio activity and the construction of Mtomic bombs, as described by IT. 0. Wells in his latest book, " The World Set Freo," was discussed by fiir Ernest Rutherford during an interview with a Herald representative-, shortly after his arrival from Sydney yesterday. " Sinoo my arrival in Manchester," said Sir Ernest Rutherford, " I have been mainly engaged in the study of radio active bodies and the remarkable radiations which they emit. The physical laboratory in Manchester is a well-equip* pod institution and we have representatives of many nations working out special problems. The advance in radio activity promises to throw a very important light on the inner structure of the .-Horn, and much of the work done during the last few years has been, along these lines. I started a discussion on the subject of the structure of the atom in Melbourne and a number of speakers took part ; v4iflo my address in Sydney dealt mainly with tho present views on this subject."

Continuing, Sir Ernest Rutherford said that one of the most interesting points in collection with the study of radio activity was tho large store of latent energy that existed in atoms of matter and which was released mainly in tho form of highspeed alpha rays, which were helio matters projected at tho enormous' speed of 10,000 miles a second. Ho then went on to deal with 11. G. Well's recent book, "The World Set Free," and pointed out that Jfr. Wellr, developed an imaginative hypotheses that science would ultimately bo able to induce in matter, .at will, tho property of radio activity and thus releaso tho enormous store of atomic energy. Mr. Wells enlarged upon the industrial possibility of this as well as upon its devastating effects in war. Tho suggestion of Mr. Wells must be considered as a dream of tho future, for up to tho present there was not the slightest evidence obtained that they would be able to influence in any way tho rate of transformation of the radio active bodies. Neither cxtromo heat nor cold had apparently tho smallest effect on the rate of evolution of energy. At tho moment it did not • appear within tho region of possibility that a substance could be manufactured having the properties of Wells's atomic bombs. At the same time if it were possible to obtain enough radium to produce one pound of radio emanation, the gaseous product evolved from radium, this quantity of active matter would emit so much energy that if would melt the walls of any substance In fact, one pound of this emanation would emit onorgy at a rato corresponding to 10,000 horse-power, but it would diminish with time. With a sufficient amount of this material it would not appear altogether impossible to construct a machine corresponding to that which projected the heat rav described in Wells's "War of the Worlds."