VOL. 9, NO. 2
279
PHARMACEUTICAL EDUCATION
Literature Cited (1) FLEXNER,JAMB A,, "A Vanishing Profession," Atlantic Mo., 148, 16-25 (July, 19.11). (2) Proceedings of Am. Assoc. Colleges of Pharmacy, 1926, pp. 97-107. (3) CHARTERS.W. W.. "Basic Material for a Pharmaceutical Curriculum," MeGrawHill Book Co., New York City, 1927, pp. 1-10. (4) ADAMS,JAMESTRU~LOW, "Wanted! Perspective," Harper's, 163, 257-65 (Aug., 1931).
Universe is exploding, Eddington tells scientists. The universe is actually exploding and the galaxies are scattering apart a t a terrific rate. Sir Arthur Eddingtan, professor of astronomy a t Cambridge University, contended recently before the British Association for the Advancement of Science. In support of his contention he presented computations based solely on pure mathematical and physical theory, without the use of astronomical data. The rate of recession of nebulae thus obtained is in close accord with Dr. Edwin P. Hubble's Mt. Wilson Observatory figures for the red shift of nebular spectra observed through the hundred-inch telescope. Prof. Huhble said. "Detailed theories of stellar evolution are overshadowed by the fact that the time scale is again in the melting pot. With a rapid-expansion universe, a very long time scale of billions of years, fashionable recently, becomes exceedingly incongruous. We have t o acccpt an age of ten to the tenth power of ten billion years for galaxies and presumably also for stars." Since the age of the earth alone, derived through the radioactive method, is over a billion years, this embarrasses astronomers, geologists, and biologists. Prof. Eddington derived the actual rate of expansion of the universe from the wave equation for the electron, which is the fundamental equation of the modern quantum theory. This equation, adapted to the curvature of space, contains the term: "tht square root of the number of electrons in the universe divided bv the radius of the universe in a state of eauilibrium," which term is the mass of the electron, usually written:
MC
-PI .
-
Combined with the formulas of the relativity theory, this gives the principal data of the size of the universe. Its original radius was 1,070,000,000 light-years, before it started expanding. Its rate of expansion is 528 kilometers per second per megabarsec, compared with 465 derived from the Hubble astronomical data. It is over a hundred miles wer second for each million lipht-years' distance. The dose accordance of the . . theory with observation forces acceptance of an alarmingly rapid dispersal of nebulae. with important consequences in limitinp the time available for evolution." Prof. Eddinpton concluded. I n the depths of space, where atoms are sparse, a cluster of four hydrogen atoms, free from colli%ionsfor 3 long time, will jump OVPI. their 1 ) ~ t ~ n t iwall a l i ~ n dfonn a nucleus emitting a cosmic ray, I'rof. Robert .indrcwi .\lillikan, of thr California Institute of ~echnalogy,declared. Dr. Millikan's theory is based on the demonstration that atomic changes not found on the earth occur in the nebulae, where atomic collisions are infrequent. Dr. Millikan's new researches during the past summer support the view that cosmic radiation consists of the wirelesed birth-cries of helium, oxygen, silicon. and iron, synthesized from hydrogen in interstellar space. Dr. Millikan, attacking the second law of thermodynamics, said, "It is merely a generalization based on observation on earth, that all energy tends to he eanvcrtrd into heat and radiated away, hence lost."-Science Senlice
