The Sweep of Science.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 25, Issue 40, 26 May 1914, Page 2

The Sweep of Science.

(By EDGAR LUCIBN LARKIN.) Sweeping now through the very portals of infinity, the imposing inarch of late science is impressive and awe-inspiring. Modern man is awakening to a glimpse of realisation of his powers. Recent extreme accuracy in refined research, in measurement, weighing, and computing has surpassed all previous attainments.

In this, note some idea, it is hoped, will be given of what explorers, researchers, . diggers, and delvers are doing in the task of storming the very bulwarks and battlements of Nature. A search, the -like of which hath not been made before, a series of investigations surpassing in microscopic precision the work of all past centuries, with instruments of such excessive delicacy that all preceding apparatus fail in comparison, a search by night and by day, is now in a state of activity. The recent isolation of one electron and determination of its properties proved to be a turning point in the advance of man, in every way equal to the. discovery of universal gravitation by Newton. . , CORNER STONES OF THE TEMPLE. Two capital discoveries, one in 1606, and the other in 1910, are the corner stones of that magnificent temple, the Temple of the Sciences. The act of weighing one electron in the laboratory is the equal of weighing a pair of colossal suns 500 trillion miles away. Both reveal that the Mind now phas-, ing in that inexplicable mystery, the brain, is well on its way to infinity.

The separating out of one electron from many quintillions of others and the finding of its inertia and potential required - more skill in manipulation, of another kind, however, than that of finding the quantity of matter in a pair of revolving suns.

Suppose that a number of parties or explorers should be researching in a wide area of plains, forests, and mountains, and that they were surveying, watching all the new and strange things discovered, and making records. And that in time two groups should come in sight of each other. And that soon another and then another, until all were close together. Upon comparing notes of surveys imagine that these should reveal the astonishing fact that all of the groups were travelling toward one and the same point. ! This would surprise .them and be of interest.

But all separate explorers are now surely and inevitably traversing lines in the mighty expanse that are actually converging. The explorers arc coming in sight l of each other, and also in sight of the point of convergence. And the one central point, the focus, is this : Nothing exists but electrons. NOTHING EXISTS BUT ELECTRONS. r Suppose that the reader could go without food or sleep during one year and could centre the eyes during the year, and also the mind, to the exclusion of all thoughts on any other subject, upon these almost supreme words ; Nothing exists but electrons ; then by the end of the year one momentary and fleeting glimpse of their stupendous mean ing might possibly be secured. And if th<j glimpse lasted daring one onehundredth part of a second of time, then astonishment would submerge the entire mind. Even their mighty discoverers, isolators, measurers, and weighers ha\e by no means been able to grasp the vast import of these four words so near the Creator.

It would be a good plan for busy people wdien at work, or on boats or trains, to mentally repeat to themselves many times during the day these four impressive words. If it was within the power of man to force electrons to lie side by side in contact—impossible, however —then a row one inch long would - contain 12,700,000,000,000. Electrons are composed of pure negative electriciiJU.