Science: Cause of Evolution?

The most provocative theory in contemporary science—that cosmic rays are the inspirers of biological evolution—was discussed this week by Dr. Gioacchino Failla in the abstruse Journal of Applied Physics. His purpose was to inform physicists about the biological effects of some forms of radiation with which they work—notably gamma rays, X-rays and cosmic rays.

These rays are really bombardments of tiny electrical particles, which easily penetrate matter. There they dislodge electrons from atoms and molecules, making some positive, some negative in charge—i.e., ionized. Ionizing radiations damage living matter: many pioneer workers with radium were maimed and killed.

In 1927 Hermann Joseph Muller, at...