Show Scientists Predict Earth Will Return To a Dead Planet I Escape of Heavy Hydrogen Expected to Be Doom of Mankind in Far Future By LEICESTER WAGNER United Press Staff Correspondent PASADENA Cal Sept 21 Heavy 21 Heavy I hydrogen discovered by two University University I sity of Columbia students may prove to be the doom of mankind This possibility remote as it may be to io those now living was discussed at the Cal California fornia Institute of Technology today by Dr R. R M M. Langer one of Dr Robert A. A Millikan's bright young men who are exploring the cosmic ray Heavy hydrogen occurs in nature in perhaps one part in Its proper proper- ties lies are not yet fully known but H. H C. C Uray and G. G M. M Murphy of Columbia university and F. F of the United States bureau of standards discovered dis covered that the atom of heavy hydrogen hydro hydra gen differs greatly from the atom of the gas we know in its commonest compound water CENTRAL NUCLEUS The central nucleus of the atom is fortified by the addition of a neutron which doubles the weight of the atom From this discovery Dr E. E O. O Lawrence Lawrence Law Law- rence of the University of California isolated the first appreciable amount of of- heavy water water water-water water which science now suspects would prove deadly to human beings Heavy water is just what the name Implies Both its atomic and actual weight are greater than the fluid we drink Dr Langer pointed out Seeds will not germinate in heavy water It is reported that flies and even mice have been killed with it il That is the only known compound in which heavy hydrogen occurs Dr Langer said Scientists are seeking more Meanwhile being concerned with the doom of mankind and heavy hydrogen itself Dr Langer explained the fatal steps HYDROGEN ESCAPES It is known to science that the earth gives off free hydrogen which escapes from the atmosphere Perhaps 99 per cent of the earths earth's original supply sup sup- ply has vanished Of the remaining 1 per cent which still is sufficient to maintain life only one thousandth ten-thousandth 1 per cent is heavy hydrogen Dr Langer said This will be the last to escape from our atmosphere and if conjectures of science that heavy hydrogen would kill human life lite are correct some hundred hun hun- dred million years from now perhaps now perhaps sooner perhaps later the later the earth would be a dead planet |