March 31, 1922] 



SCIENCE 



333 



fection. Discovery has followed discovery, now 

 in one subject, now in another, each throwing 

 new and increasing illumination into the other 

 fields. The application of the spectroscope to 

 astronomy, affording the means of determin- 

 ing the chemical composition, distances, motions, 

 temperatures, pressures, densities, and masses 

 of the stars, has led to many advances of fun- 

 damental importance. The rise of physical 

 chemistry, which revealed the role played by 

 electrically charged particles in solutions and 

 established for chemistry a rational underlying 

 theory, opened another new world of thought. 

 The extraordinary discoveries and developments 

 in physics, particularly in the fields of radio- 

 activity, the electrical nature of matter. X-rays 

 and radiation, have brought to light wholly 

 unexpected relationships between the elements 

 which are of the greatest significance, both from 

 the purely scientific and the practical point of 

 view. 



We now know that there are just 92 elements 

 in nature, the heaviest of which are spontane- 

 ously breaking up into lighter ones. The basic 

 element hydrogen exists throughout the uni- 

 verse, accompanied by other elements in varying 

 proportions and states. A few stable elements 

 can be broken up by artificial means in the 

 laboratory, but no method of combining their 

 constituents has yet been found. In the stars, 

 however, there is strong reason to believe that 

 the heavier elements are actually being built up 

 from lighter ones, under conditions involving 

 phenomena of radiation and absorption of 

 energy as yet unknown on the earth. We 

 should therefore not be limited to any single 

 line of procedure, but should organize our at- 

 tack in such a way that physics, chemistry, 

 and astrophysics may all play adequate parts. 



In the development in Pasadena of a single 

 center for this purpose, the equipment needed 

 for physics is now supplied by the establish- 

 , ment of the Norman Bridge Laboratory, with 

 its powerful instruments and adjuncts, includ- 

 ing a high tension laboratory, containing a 

 million volt transformer, provided by the 

 Southern California Edison Company. The 

 Gates Laboratory, with many added facilities, 

 will meet the necessary requirements for chem- 



istry. The Mount Wilson Observatory, with its 

 telescopes on Mount Wilson and its laboratories 

 and instrument shops in Pasadena, provides for 

 astrophysics. Thus the material means are not 

 lacking, while the excellent atmospheric con- 

 ditions, available sites for physical experiments 

 ranging from sea-level to easily accessible 

 mountain stations up to 12,000 feet, a neigh- 

 boring Army Balloon School for free air ex- 

 periments, and ample sources of hydroelectric 

 power meet the needs of the widest research 

 activities. 



Most fundamental of all, however, is the re- 

 search staff, and we are fortunate indeed in 

 the recent accession of Dr. Millikan and Dr. 

 Epstein, and in the privilege of having Pro- 

 fessor Lorentz with us during the present win- 

 ter. Mathematical physics must play a promi- 

 nent part in our joint efforts, and the coopera- 

 tion of the leading authorities in this field is 

 essential. The combined corps of investigators 

 of the Institute laboratories and of the Ob- 

 servatory, powerfully supplemented by our 

 eminent Research Associates, is now well quali- 

 fied to open an effective campaign. Indeed, if 

 time permitted, I could show you how it has 

 already begun. 



A detailed report on the proposed joint in- 

 vestigation was presented by the California In- 

 stitute to the Carnegie Corporation of New 

 York in September. This was referred to 

 President Merriam and the Executive Commit- 

 tee of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, 

 who cordially endorsed the project and agreed 

 to administer any funds for its support that 

 might be granted by the Corporation. At its 

 meeting on November 17 the Carnegie Corpora- 

 tion appropriated thirty thousand dollars per 

 year for five years to the Carnegie Institution 

 of Washington, to be accepted and administered 

 by the Institution for the support of funda- 

 mental researches in physics and chemistry to 

 be conducted at the California Institute of 

 Technology. Dr. Millikan and Dr. Noyes have 

 been appointed Research Associates of the Car- 

 negie Institution, and the appropriation will be 

 expended under their direction. Supplement- 

 ing, as it does so generously, the research fimds 

 of the California Institute, this appropriation 



