THEORY OF MATTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21165, 23 April 1932, Page 7 (Supplement)

THEORY OF MATTER.

YOUNG SCIENTIST'S RESEARCH. Mr. V. V. Narliker, a research student of lutzWilliam House, lias shown that there can lie no more complex chemical elements than arc already known, and neither in the most distant parts of the universe nor in the most remote past or future could there exist any element which cannot he studied on tlie earth. His work, published in the current number of Nature, corrects that of Sir Arthur Eddington. his University Professor, with Sir Arthur's fall approval, and contraverts the theories of Sir James Jeans on tho constitution of the stars. Only last week Mr. Narliker was awarded the .Rayleigh Prize of the University for his astronomical investigations. " Tho previous view, based on (Sir Arthur's work." Mr. Narliker explained to a Morning Post correspondent, "was that 137 distinct elements wero possible. My present theory shows that only 92 aire possible, of which all except 85 and 87 aro already known. I think this should givo a pull to Professor Eddington's work, since any theory, if it is to be useful, include constants which mean something—and 92, tlie number of possible chemical elements, is a constant of which the significance is at once obvious.

" Number 92. tho radio-active element uranium, now becomes the most complex atom possible. This will affect Sir James Jeans's theory of stars, since he has assumed the existence of more complex and unstable elements, the breakdown of which within the star would provide a stupendous source of radiant energy. Tiie views of Sir Arthur Eddington and Professor Milne. wlio have often engaged with Sir James Jeans in triangular dobate, will not bo affected. Sir Arthur, indeed, assisted me to formulate the letter to Nature in which I have indicated tho mathematical basis of my conclusions. " My work also disposes of the idea that wo shall ever be able to obtain energy for industrial purposes from the breakdown of elements less stable than radium and uranium. I think we must look to something of the neutron type — a new kind of ultra-penetrating ray, discovered at] tho Cavendish Laboratory. Cambridge—some new type of particle contained in ordinary matter, if we arc ever to realise the dream of obtaining unbounded energy from a chemical source."

RIDING ON OIL. Oil films two ten-thousands of an inch thick support weights weighing almost a quarter of a ton to the square inch at Pennsylvania State College. The films are formed in high speed machine bearings, and their performance is determined in a new type of test. The experiments show that oil films capable of carrying these extreme weights may bo had simply by placing the oil holes correctly. When that is dono " riding on oil " becomes a fact. The hub of a wheel turning around its axle illustrates what the testing devices have disclosed. The weight rests on top of the hub, pressing it against the axle which supports it, with the expected result that underneath the axle there is more space than on top, on which the pressure is exerted. As tho wheel speeds its revolutions around the axle, oil is dragged upward into the narrow top area and is compressed until it acquires tremendous weight-sustaining power. By increasing the weight on a revolving bearing, it was found that the maximum compression of the oil rose faster than did the weight. One hundred pounds of weight on the test machine resulted in a maximum compression of 2501b. to the square inch in the oil film. But a weight of 4001b. produced a maximum pressure on the oil film of 14001b. to the square inch. Although almost too thin to bo visible, the oil film at this compression completely separated the two metallic surfaces. At weights above 4001b. to the square inch the oil film began to break down and to allow the metal faces to rub each other.

POWER OP SOUND WAVES. It is claimed by scientists in America that- ninety-nine per cent, of the bacteria in milk can be destroyed by forcing supersound waves through the fluid. The waves do not, spoil the milk for use. The milk is fed upward through an inverted funnel. A hollow tube below the large end of the funnel vibrates at, high speed to produce sound waves which are concentrated in the funnel. Round kills the bacteria because it is a form of energy. The tube vibrated by electricity, may ho operated continuously, the milker being fed into the " sound steriliser " as fast as it comes from the dairy.