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Show NO EXPLOSION POSSIBLE Science Now' Spalliates' Atoms Scientists now can split the atoms of five more metals lead, bismuth, thallium, platinum and tantalum-achievements tantalum-achievements destined to open new roads toward man's ultimate mastery mas-tery of the atom. However, there's no need to worry about the possibility that a "cheap" atomic bomb could be made by splitting the atoms of such a common com-mon metal as lead, according to Prof. Glenn T. Seaborg. University of California physicist, who played a dominant role in development of the first atom bomb The day has not yet come when atomic bombs could be made with common elements such as lead and bismuth. Dr. Seaborg said, empha- sizing that the fission of such elements ele-ments "opens no possibility for the production of self-sustaining chain reaction." As a matter of fact, he added, they can't even be used as sources of atomic energy for purposes less violent than that of blowing mankind man-kind to bits. They don't emit enough energy for that. Actually, the atoms of the five metals are not split they're splintered. splin-tered. Scientists call this splintering process "spalliation" to distinguish it from plain ordinary fission. What good is the spalliation of atoms if they can't be utilized directly di-rectly for atomic bombs or energy? Their purpose is humanitarian. They will greatly enrich the field of scientific and medical research by adding at least 100 new radioactive isotopes to the more than 500 already al-ready produced. It is the beginning of a new phase of nuclear development, he said, j Next step is to create machines that j develop such high energies that man will be able to create matter out of energy, thus reversing the process of the atom bomb which 1 turns matter into energy. "Apparently the prospects for en- j tering this next energy region are good. Thus we may look forward to even more amazing developments in the fields of nuclear science," Dr. Seaborg predicted 1 I |