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Article: Illuminating rays.(A Thin Cosmic Rain: Particles From Outer Space)(book)(Brief Article)(Review)
- Article from:
- Chemistry and Industry
- Article date:
- October 15, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Society of Chemical Industry. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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A thin cosmic rain: particles from outer space Michael W Friedlander
London: Harvard University Press, 2000 Pp1+241, [pound]20.50, ISBN 0 674 00288 1
The discovery that laid the groundwork for the fundamental science of particle physics was made in 1912, in an instrument-laden basket carried aloft by a hot air balloon. Austrian physicist Victor Hess floated to 5250m to study the source of mysterious radiation that was foxing researchers in this radical new science.
Monitoring his electroscopes as he ascended, Hess discovered that the intensity of ionising radiation decreased up to around 1500m. But by the time he reached his maximum altitude, ...