252 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. L. No. 1289 



Dh. L. Bauman, formerly assistant professor 

 of medicine and director of research, at tlie 

 University of Iowa has been appointed asso- 

 ciate in medicine at Columbia University and 

 assistant visiting physician to the Presbyte- 

 rian Hospital. 



The following appointments to professor- 

 ships in the University College of Wales, 

 Aberystwyth, have been made: Professor G. 

 Owen, of the University of New Zealand, in 

 physics; Professor W. H. Young, of the Uni- 

 versity of Liverpool, in mathematics; A. E. 

 Jones, of the University of Wales, in agri- 

 culture; Captain W. T. Pugh, in geology. 



DISCUSSION AND CORRESPONDENCE 



A POSSIBLE SOURCE OF COSMICAL ENERGY 



According to the theory of J. J. Thomson, 

 atoms are complex structures of systems of 

 positively and negatively charged particles 

 (such as, e. g., helium nuclei and electrons) 

 in rapid rotation and held in position by an 

 equilibrium of their mutual forces. 



Various phenomena can be explained and a 

 possible source of cosmical energy be found 

 by the simple assumption that some constit- 

 uents of the subatomic structure retard their 

 speed in eons and thereby increase the weight 

 of the atoms. 



It was recently pointed out^ that the differ- 

 ent atomic weights of the isotopes, such as, 

 e. g., the different forms of lead, may be due 

 to "age" of the chemical elements, whereby 

 the different types of atoms are subject to a 

 chemical evolution. In the case of lead the 

 radioactive or young lead possesses the lower 

 atomic weight and density than the common 

 or old lead. According to this hypothesis the 

 radioactive, that is newly formed, lead will 

 eons hence have a higher atomic weight and 

 density, while the common or old lead had 

 eons ago a lower atomic weight and density. 

 All other elements should be subject to this 

 aging process, and by the catching of further 

 electrons and helium nuclei transmute into 

 elements of higher atomic weight. Evidence 

 of this is seen in the occurrence of the chem- 



1 Science, 49, 328, 1919. 



ical elements and their distribution upon the 

 earth's surface, where elements of the same 

 period are mostly aggregated in definite min- 

 eral types. 



Assuming that the orbital motion of the 

 electrons is lessened in a certain time interval, 

 it is evident that a steady and continuous 

 amount of energy apparently disappears. 

 This energy perhaps reappears as cosmical 

 energy, for the principle of conservation 

 makes it inconceivable that such a steady 

 drainage of energy should be constantly 



If such a theory is substantiated, a link 

 between the extreme sciences of the macro- 

 cosmos and microcosmos, astrophysics and sub- 

 atomic physics, will be established and stellar 

 evolution will be based upon a chemical evolu- 

 tion whereby all types of atoms change until 

 they finally become radioactive, that is un- 

 stable, and disintegrate again. The smoke- 

 rings of some planetaries are then jjerhaps 

 clouds of helium gas formed by the radio- 

 active disintegration of the nuclear star, and 

 would thus indicate the last stage of chemical 

 and stellar evolution and the beginning of a 



new series. 



Ingo W. D. Hackh 



Beekeley, Calif. 



THE IMPERFECT STAGE OF LEPTOSPH^ffiRIA 

 TRITICI OF WHEAT 



In connection with studies of anthracnose 

 of small grains a species of what seemed to be 

 an Ascochyta has frequently been found on 

 dead straw. Recently, while culturing Lepto- 

 sphceria tritici the relationship of these two 

 forms was revealed. 



The pycnidial fruiting bodies grow side by 

 side with the perithecia of L. tritici on dead 

 wheat straw in the spring and are difficult to 

 distinguish from them, both being dark, sub- 

 merged and of the same size, though the 

 ostioles of the perithecia are more protruding. 

 The pycnidia are filled with guttulate spores, 

 usually two-celled and approximately 12-20 

 X 3.5^ fjL, their shape, size and manner of 

 production suggesting Ascochyta graminicola 

 as described by Frank. Single spore cultures 

 of the ascospores of L. tntici obtained by the 



