THE SPEED THEORY. 



OADIUM, discovered by Madam Curie, is a great 

 ^ aid to the solution of the Riddle of the 

 Universe. 



One of the greatest generalizations of science 

 (termed the conservation of energy) teaches that 

 energy, however it may be changed from one form 

 of force into another, is never destroyed or originated. 



Another great generalization (the ^persistence of 

 matter) teaches that no substance comes into ex- 

 istence out of nothing, and no substance is ever 

 annihilated. 



Both of these great laws Radium, on its first 

 discovery, appeared to contradict, by, apparently, 

 continuously throwing off heat, or energy, without 

 getting colder, although the dissipated energy was 

 not replaced from external sources ; and it appeared 

 to continuously emanate matter from itself without 

 growing less. 



This extraordinary behaviour naturally excited 

 great interest in scientific minds, and set the ex- 

 perimenters at work. Among that able and learned 

 band of men Professors Rutherford and Soddy de- 

 voted their attention to the study of Radium and 

 kindred radio-active substances. After most pains- 



* Read Biichner's Force and flatter. 



39 



