“The Physical Condition of the Planets”

Abstract

READING Sir James Jeans's most interesting and informative lecture at the Royal Institution (see NATURE, May 3, p. 526), one is, I think, brought up short by the following statement “The greater part of both atmospheres [of Jupiter and Saturn] will be at a pressure of more than a million terrestrial atmospheres. Under such pressures, no known substance remains gaseous.” This latter statement is so far contrary to what I, in common no doubt with most chemists, have been taught “from my youth up”, that I cannot believe it represents Sir James's considered opinion.