The Evolution of Matter - LeBon

itself without perceptible changes within the limits of fairly large variations of the medium. Water can remain liquid in variations of temperature ranging from zero degrees to 100 degrees Centigrade, and most metals do not appear to change their state within still wider limits of heat or of rates of vibration. However, these facts do not answer all the questions.

A succession of changes will be accompanied by the liberation of a certain quantity of the intra-atomic energy contained in matter. This is going on all the, time in the cosmos to such an extent man with his manmade devices can never hope to compete. So why not use "nature's gift" of cosmic reactions? These actions, the mere presence of which are of such importance in the phenomena of life, may perhaps find an explanation in this theory. It was such studies on phosphoresence which led men to this hypothesis. It will be recollected that pure substances, various sulphides, phosphates of lime, etc., are never phosphorescent normally and only become so when brought to a red heat for a length of time with traces of various other substances - such as bismuth, manganese, etc. On the other hand, this elevation of temperature always provokes a dissociation of matter. It is therefore reasonable to suppose that the elements proceeding from this dissociation have an active part in the compounds then formed, which gives to such bodies the capacity of phosphorescence and sometimes other properties.

The combinations so obtained have precisely the characteristics pointed out above as belonging to extreme mobility; that is to say, of disintegrating and then regenerating themselves very rapidly. A ray of blue light falling on a screen of sulphide of zinc illuminates it in the tenth of a second, and a ray of red light falling on the same screen disinteregrates the phosphoresence in the same space of time; that is, it brings the screen back to its original state. These two contrary operations necessarily imply two converse reactions which may be indefinitely repeated.

These facts prove that by reason of the enormous quantity of intra-atomic energy contained in matter, a loss of substance too small to be detected by an analytical balance may be accompanied by a very great liberation of energy. We have no need to do this artifically because it is being done for us in the cosmos.

It is possible even without the action of heat to verify in ordinary bodies the existence of a constant emanation from the dissociated matter, though this emanation normally is extremely small in quantity. This all proves that the evolution of creation is going on continually.

To cause it to be apparent, it is necessary to compel it to accumulate in a restricted space. To demonstrate this, fold a sheet of metal so as to transform it into a small cylinder, similar to the one which encloses the ball of a condensing electroscope. With the lower opening closed, it is left for 8 days in darkness. Then, still keeping it in darkness so as to avoid any possible influence from light, the cylinder is placed on the insulating disc of the electroscope, or special ray counter instrument, to examine its radioactivity. After having charged the whole system it will be found that a definite discharge per minute is obtained. As the metal rapidly loses that which it has accumulated, the discharge soon ceases. Many materials other than metals, such as a boxwood cylinder, will produce the same effect; also certain gas-filled tubes.

The metal, after ceasing to act on the electroscope or counter, still has not exhausted its provision of radioactivity. It has simply parted with the quantity it can emit at the particular temperature at which the operation was effected. As with phosphorescent bodies or radioactive matter, it only has to be slightly heated to cause it to again yield a more considerable emission of active effuvia. The only difference between kinds of matter is in the rate of vibration or wave-length, the difference resulting in transmutation, changing and restoring. Evolution in its true sense is evolution from one rate of vibration to another, or transmutation: energy changing into matter and matter into energy, as we wrote back in 1925.

Cosmic rays are constantly creating radioactive carbon, and the fusion of small atoms to make larger ones gives off more energy than so-called "splitting" of the larger uranium or plutonium atoms, the uranium energy release ratio being only 1 to 1000 — that is only 1/1000 of the heavy atoms changed in the uranium "atom splitting" process.

"Nuclear fission" action is not confined to highly radioactive substances. "Atom splitting" is taking place naturally on this earth and on other planets and suns in the universe. There is absolutely no need of the hysteria that has swept the world over "atom splitting", it has been going on naturally from the very beginning of time. Energy and matter cannot be considered strangers just being introduced to the world. When the evolution of matter and the evolution of forces are considered, nothing new is being advanced. When we consider radium giving off three distinct forms of energy-alpha, beta, gamma-we cannot help but see a relationship between electricity and matter. Alpha ray? Alpha particle (matter). Beta ray? The electron (but still matter).

Radium decays into other nuclei (radon gas) which emit emanations that have characteristics of energy levels higher than those emitted by the original atom. This gas generating alpha rays could be condensed into a liquid if volume would vary inversely with the pressure (Boyle's Law). Thorium decays in much the same manner giving rise to higher energy products.

Now, if we turn to vegetable matter, we find energy is also being given off in a way similar to that of radium, thorium and other radioactive matter. This time, however, we find direct electrical energy being given off: Various vegetables and fruits will do for the experiment. A "volta pile" can be made of potatoes, grain, apples, onions, etc. Let us take the apple. In a "volta pile" made of 25 apples (50 halves) one can obtain enough electromotive force to light a flashlight globe. The living animal cell, like the vegetable cell, is also giving off energy, consuming oxygen and producing carbon dioxide and an electrical potential.

We find in vegetable, mineral and animal matter the same relationship, the same dependence on oxidation and electrical energy as we find in oxidation in stellar space, evolving energy into matter and matter into energy. Here we see energy and matter and matter and energy vibrating together.

Regarding the force of energy from the cosmos, noted experts in photography have found the light produced from this source of energy is much whiter than that obtained from ordinary electrical energy. This light burns into the film when photographed due to the great intensity of the pure white light produced, yet the light is easy on even weak eyes.

It is also noted that detail from these films can only be obtained by holding hack dense areas to about one tenth that of normal exposure even when nonhalation film and super flash bulbs are used, but the pictures are sharper. Let us again state: An electrical generator is in the true sense not a generator. It creates nothing. Electricity is not made by the generaor, it is merely captured or pumped. From that standpoint an electric generator is an electric pump; and a Radiant Energy or cosmic energy device, a high speed 'oscillating energy resonator.

If we reverse our imagination on what the telescope has taught us of the stellar universe, we will find that beyond the microscope we have the particles of which everything about us consists, obeying every law that is found everywhere from stellar space to atomic space. We find bodies in motion and when we think of how small the proton and electron are, and yet obeying the same laws of the universe, we may see the economic wastefulness of science trying to crack the atom, when nature, or call it what you will, is accomplishing the same thing for us in stellar and inter-stellar spaces. Why do something nature is already doing for us? Let's use what nature offers, as I first suggested many years ago. From this conception, we might see that Democritus came close to a great scientific truth when he boldly declared that all physical phenomena reduce themselves to one thing-motion-or as we might repeat, "vibration," "the sounds of the universe." Let me repeat: do not forget the atom is but a counterpart of the universe itself, and that light and other radiations exert a mechanical pressure upon every object they strike, and that all these radiations are essentially electrical in their character. There is a breaking down and a building up of the atom continuously, and it is this evolution which is producing, eternally, unlimited power.

May it not yet be shown that the dissipated energy which results from so much transformation of matter which has heretofore been unavailable- or should we say, unused by us where it has only appeared to be unavailable - should now become available to us, an unlimited source of power through the discovery of the application of these forces. And that the discovery that matter and energy are one is possibly the sum total of all that has been found during the centuries of constant research? Are the nature of matter and energy to be judged by that small portion of the universe which is visible to man - man still limited even when armed with his most powerful telescope or with his finest microscope?

All space is saturated with energies which are vibratory in their ultimate analysis and very cosey allied to electrical action. The relation of matter to energy an energy to matter then becomes the potential of the universe, one continous series of oscillations, moving to and fro like a great pendulum across the universe.A steady flow of energy can had from the surges of the universe, just as a steady flow of water may be obtained from the surges of the sea.

Electrons are spontaneously being emitted from all nuclei found in nature, and every new discovery on the subject bears out the claim that all "space" is filled with energy, millions of amperes at very high voltages.

This is based on the disintegration of radioactive material, natural or artificial; but the same action is taking place in the "sonics" (vibrations) of the universe with all matter and energy.

As long as the universe has existed, charged particles now called "cosmic rays" have been bombarding every planet or object in it, including all living bodies, at the rate of twenty times per second and with a force great enough to penetrate deep into the rocks of the earth.

Cosmic rays have been called "the death cry of the universe" or "by-products of the destruction of matter in the cosmos." In the process of the evolution of matter and evolution of forces there is no "death cry," only the "song of creation." There is no destruction of matter or energy, only the cycle of matter and energy. Creation is going on continually. You subtract in one place only to add in another.

CHAPTER 10