Radio age research, manufacturing, communications, broadcasting, television (1941)

DEEPER INTO THE UNKNOWN Improvement in Electron Microscope Permits SAagnification of Atomic Structure to More Than 180,000 Times Original SUCCESS in magnifying an in- finitesimal particle of atomic structure to a size more than 180,- 000 times greater than the original specimen—an achievement opening to scientists and disease fighters heretofore unseen realms for re- search and exploration — was dis- closed by the Radio Corporation of America to members of the Elec- tron Microscope Society of America, meeting at Princeton University on November 30 and December 1. Dr. James Hillier, one of the elec- tron microscopy pioneers of RCA Laboratories, told of developments which have almost doubled the pre- vious accepted bounds of magnifica- tion by electronic means. These in- clude design of an electronic "gun" which increases the intensity of the image twenty-fold and improves illumination to such an extent it is possible to use a new telescopic viewing device. Also revealed was an improved lens designed to in- crease resolving power. Dr. Hillier described how these modifications not only have enabled an operator to examine the final image visually at unprecedented levels of magnifi- cation but have made possible pho- tographic exposures as well. He pointed out that were the magnification (180,000 times) of the modified RCA electron micro- scope applied to a man of average size, he would tower 200 miles above the earth; should he lie down, his head would be in Washington and his feet in Philadelphia. This advance makes visible for the first time submicroscopic ob- jects far smaller than the virus and brings molecules into sight. In fact, bacteria can be magnified to the size of a dachshund and were this atomic laboratory animal to have fleas they, too, would be clearly vis- ible and have the approximate size MOLECULES OF POLYSTYRENE LATEX MAGNIFIED 180,000 TIMES BY IM- PROVED ELECTRON MICROSCOPE. of molecules. Dr. Hillier said that in labora- tory experiments he and his asso- ciates had achieved magnifications in which the final images were ex- amined at as high as 300,000 times original size. He said recent im- provements had made it possible consistently to obtain resolutions of the order of 20 angstrom units (one unit representing approximately IVo atoms). This is considered a major advance in view of the fact that during the previous five years only a few exposures of this resolv- ing power had been obtained from more than 25,000 exposures made during the period. Electrons "Illuminate" Specimen The electron microscope—hailed by research experts as the greatest aid to science developed in the 20th Century—differs from the optical microscope chiefly in the fact that the specimen to be examined is "illuminated" by directing a con- centrated beam of electrons through it. These electrons, in passing through the specimen, are afl^ected in varying degrees according to the density and composition of various parts of the specimen. When the electron beam emerges from the far side of the specimen it bears the pattern or "image" of the specimen. This image is magnified to satisfac- tory size by magnetic lenses, which correspond roughly to the optical lenses in a light microscope. Spanish Lessons on Records A new Spanish language record set titled "New World Spanish," consisting of two albums of ten 10- inch records, together with a 337- page textbook, was announced in November by RCA Victor. Pre- pared and arranged by outstanding Spanish language authorities in this country, the set is designed to give a practical and authentic ap- proach to the learning of the lan- guage by students in classrooms and individuals in homes or clubs. [RADIO AGE 15]