RADIUM'S PROPERTIES. GERMAN PROFESSOR SAYS THEY EXIST IN ALL MATTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7922, 29 January 1904, Page 2

RADIUM'S PROPERTIES. GERMAN PROFESSOR SAYS THEY EXIST IN ALL MATTER.

Professor Franz Himsfcedt, of the Physical • Institute of ; the University* of Freiburg, Baden, has con-eluded a series of experiments which would seem to tend towards a new conception; of the wonderful properties of radium. Professor Himsfcedt has examined a number of water and petroleum springs, the products of which all give out a radioactive gas, which is very similar to, if not identical with, the emanations of radium. This points to am alternative: Either radium is an extraordinarily common substance to bo met with in the soil, or there are other substances besides radium thafc send out similar or identical emanations. In the case of water or petroleum, these emanations would finft be absorbed and then given out. Professor Himsfcedt is inclined to believe that the peculiar radiation which is generally attributed to radium alone is in* re-, alifcy to be met with in a great number of substances. Radium, therefore, would, with regard to these particular rays, not stand out alone among aU other sub.stances, but only be different as to strength of the radiation. It would be a question of degree, nofc of quality. Professor Himstedt alludes to the fact that in/ former years magnetism was con-^ sidered a specific, property -*. ■ of iron, while* ' now it is^recognised to be common to all substances, though in infinite variety of decree.