Word: atomics
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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Hypothesis I. There are two major competing theories about the universe's origin, he explained. "Evolutionary" theory holds that all the matter that now exists was once concentrated in a single mass that may have been no bigger than the earth's orbit. This "primeval atom," whose density must have been something like 2 billion tons per cubic inch, disintegrated 20 to 60 billion years ago. Its matter turned into hot, rapidly expanding gas, and stayed in this condition until about 9 billion years ago. Then the gas began to condense into the billions of galaxies, each containing...
...evolutionary theory is generally credited to the Abbé Georges Lemaitre, a Belgian priest. "For him," said Dr. Lovell, "and for all who associate their universe with God, the creation of the primeval atom was a divine act outside the limits of scientific knowledge and indeed of scientific investigation." Some of Lemaitre's nonreligious disciples think otherwise. Cosmographer George Gamov of the University of Colorado believes that the primeval atom was not an ultimate beginning but "merely a state of maximum contraction of a universe that had previously existed for an eternity of time." A semi-mystical attitude...
...census in a large chunk of space so distant that the galaxies in it are seen on earth as they were 5 or 6 billion years ago. If the galaxies prove to be crowded closer together than they are in the section of space near the earth, the primeval atom will have won the contest-since, according to the cosmic evolutionary theory, the universe was much smaller 6 billion years ago and its galaxies were therefore closer together...
Such a restrictive treaty could well be as damaging as no treaty at all. If scientists are forced to give up all hopes of testing theories on the constructive use of the atom, atomic research will lose many of its most devoted and imaginative workers. Even if the ban is legally only a temporary one, there will be a strong moral commitment implicit in it, which may make it difficult ever to resume tests. Considering the possible finality of the agreement they are undertaking, the men at Geneva should introduce flexible provisions governing peaceful experimentation under an international agency...
Newspapers got wind of what was up, and the storm was on. CALL SECRET MEET AS FALLOUT PERILS L.A.. cried Hearst's Los Angeles Herald & Express. ATOM FALLOUT RISE HERE SETS OFF PANIC. cried the Chandler Mirror-News.Switchboards lit up as anxious residents phoned city officials, newspaper offices. TV studios. Scientists passed out the word. "No danger to anyone.'' said U.C.L.A.'s Nuclear Medicine Expert Dr. Thomas Hennessey. "I don't think the public's mind should be relieved." said U.S.C.'s Biochemistry Professor Dr. Paul Saltman. And when AEC said later that...