Show atom power will probably be useful within a lifetime hoboken N J while science sees no immediate way in which power directly from the atom nucleus can be turned to useful and practical purposes it is probable that applications of existing knowledge to this end will come within the lifetime of persons now living this prediction with its startling implications was made here by prof E 0 lawrence of the university of california in the commencement men cement address of the stevens institute of technology professor lawrence has the worlds most potent atom smashing cyclotron equipment in his radiation laboratory and he and his students have transmuted most of the chemical elements known to man from one form to another but whether it will be possible to release subatomic energy on a practical and profitable basis for industrial purposes whether perhaps it will be possible to realize conditions on this earth similar to those in the sun is the question which of course interests the engineer said professor lawrence indeed it is a question of interest to everyone and accordingly it has been the subject of much popular discussion and speculation but speculation is hardly more than a game of fortune telling and this is out of place here it is only of interest to indicate the present state of knowledge with proper humility with recognition that what t the he future u holds forth only the future u r e c can an tell in this spirit I 1 would say at this time that although we now know that matter can be converted into energy we do not see any greater prospect of destroying n nuclear matter for power purposes I 1 than ban of cooling the ocean to freezing temperatures and converting the heat released into profitable work it it does seem that the same considerations of the second law of thermodynamics govern the availability of energy in the hearts of atoms as in the atlantic ocean itself although I 1 cannot encourage the view that some day you will be running power plants by the release of subatomic energy that thal you will be using the nuclei or atoms as fuel I 1 do wish to emphasize that the establishment of the great principle of the equivalence of mass and energy is none the less of great practical importance it is probable that in your life time and in mine this great principle will play a vital role in technical developments which you and I 1 at the moment are arc not even dreaming of for such has been the history of science |