Jain Philosophy and Modern Science

Author(s): Nagrajmuni
Publisher: Anuvrat Samiti

Page 97

THEORY OF ATOM
81" Let us pause at this point for a moment, and ask 'Is any of the above particles the ultimate indivisible unit of matter? The modern physicist or chemist, in his search for the basic or elementary particle of the structure of universe, has played first with the molecules, then with the atoms and now he is toying with the electrons and the nucleons. But he dare not state that he has reached the ultirate; • that nucleons etc, are really elementary and cannot be subdivided into smaller constituent parts. Wasn't it assumed only half a century ago that the atoms were indivisible? Yet, what a complicated picture they present today! May be, there are 'solarsystems in the heart of the Protons etc..
Radio Activity and the Transformation of Elements.
Discussion about the radioactive elements is now going on from one end of the world to the other: How, by the tests of the Hydrogen Bombs carried out. ty the Americans and the Russians, radioactive particles are scattered in the sky and carried thousands. of miles away and what is their destructive effect on mankind, is now the burning topic of the : day. To understand radioactivity is not wicked It is a property of matter and is spontanen ously revealed in this vast field of nature by some rare substances It is a very good illustration of the mysterious nature of 'Pudgala' (matter). Uranian, radiun and other elements having 83 to 92 electrons