TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19758, 13 December 1935, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Transformation of Atoms Lord Rutherford, in an address on “Recent Advances in Nuclear Physics,” described laboratory experiments carried out in the transformation of nuclei by the bombardment of the atom, and said: “ While we arc producing transformations on earth, we are convinced that they are going on, on a great scale, in the sun and hot stars. I have not the least doubt that all the elements wc know exist in the sun. I anticipate that the sun is the centre of transformation of atoms, in sonic cases building up the elements and in other enses breaking them down.

“It is clear that, if that is so, wo should anticipate neutrons escaping from the sun, hut so far we have never observed neutrons existing in our atmosphere. I would suggest that it will he well worth investigation by those who are studying cosmic rays in the higher atmosphere if they will take up the study, say, of slow neutrons, and get evidence of tho presence of neutrons in a higher atmosphere. Light balloons should be used for this purpose. If (hose neutrons cannot he got. down lo our atmosphere, it is probable that they are used up, passing through, in producing alpha particles and other elements in the higher atmosphere.”

Air Services Accidents with aircraft arc given much publicity but Major II G Brnckley, air superintendent since 1924 of Imperial Airways, talking to members of the Royal Aeronautical Society, was able to prove" hat nearly 4,000,000 miles have been flown since 1924, with over 95 per cent, journeys completed to schedule time. Major Bracklev said that all-the-year-rouml flying was more difficult in Europe than on any of the Empire routes because of the ri-ks of collision. Cut he proceeded to show that there were diilirultics on the Indian, African, and Australian journeys which were unknown to Europe. Fog and ground mist might happen anywhere, I )U( sll( .], tilings as monsoons, dust-storms, sandstorms, and bush tires belonged to the Indian Ocean and to desert routes, and each of these phenomena brought its special problems to the pilots, problems which involved the pilot in continuous scientific study.