THE ORIGIN OF THE EARTH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19478, 23 December 1925, Page 6

THE ORIGIN OF THE EARTH

(To the Editor) Sir, —A correspondent, "Plain Bill,” intimates thiat Sir Arthur Keith contradicts himself in his estimate of the duration of the Eocene period at about 600,000 years. Hardly, as he has no doubt good grounds for modifying his previous estimate of two- millions of years as given in ‘‘Outline of Science,” Ln any case it does not affect the conclusion that the common stem of the apes (primates) originated early in the Eocene age. One referred to this particular fact to show the utter absurdity of Sir Oliver Lodge being credited with the statement that the earth evolved from a nebular condition two millions of years ago. Both geologists and biologists claim many millions of years for the development of plant and animal species. 'J'rue some of the physicists, notably Lord Kelvin, lor instance, have denied that the earth was as old as lh<* geologists claimed it to be, but even then Kelvin’s estimate of 20 million years will not tally with Sir Oliver’s two millions. Sir Arthur Thomson, commenting on Lord Kelvin’s estimate of the earth’s age, says that "he had not at his disposal, however, the knowledge of recent discoveries, which have resulted in this estimate being very greatly increased.” Svante Arrhenius, the great Swedish chemist and astronomer, estimates the nebular origin of the earth to have taken place in the remote past many hundreds of millions of years ago. In his remarkable book "The Life of the Universe,” he refers to the epoch-mak-ing chemical discources of Sir Ernest Rutherford and Ramsey; the former in his investigation of the decomposition of uranian sums up his experiments by the conclusion that 416 million years have elapsed since this mineral could have been formed from the glowing masses thrown up from the interior of the earth. Arrhenius does not question Rutherford’s deduction, but strongly supports the view of the great antiquity of the earth. As to the sun, it will ultimately become dead or extinct, finally to be changed into a nebula again by a collision with another dead sun. The creation and duration of our solar system is but a flash in the cosmic pan when thought of in connection with the wonderful cyclic changes ’hat have taken place

.he infinite and eternal play of matter and energy in their stupendous and marvellous manifestation throughout the universe. The contemplation of the amazing discoveries of the astronomers anil physicists is such that one’s conception of existence is immeasurably enlarged, so much so that one can only wonder how socalled educated men can be satisfied with the old creation myths begotten in the childhood of the human race. A our correspondent quotes a number of writers, but there is nothing in their remarks that is relevant to the origin of the earth from the solar nebula, and it is even difficult to see how what he does quote throws any light whatever in reconciling the Mosaic story of creation with modern science. It is very clear that the writer of Genesis believed, and has been believed for thousands of years, that the earth, sun and stars were made in six days, mornings and evenings included. In conclusion, I would remark that one would like to know what parts of Europe and North America Vrere under ice even 2000 feet thick when Babylonia was in the hey-day of civilisation. Such assertions want some

evidence to back the mup. The last glacial period in Europe was when the Tee Cap extended from Norway right across Gormlany to Switzerland, and that is said by scientists to have been 80,000 years ago. Even if it could be reduced to 10,000 years, what evidence is there that Chaldea was highly civilised at that period? The fact that your correspondend is relady to believe that Sir Oliver Lodge was reported correctly as giving the age of the earth as two millions of years is a sure criticism of his very limited knowledge of modern scientific thought: his credence gives him away completely. Thanking you. Mr Editor, for the use of your valuable space.—l am, etc., ARTHUR TALBOT.. A’indella, December 20, 1925.