The first section concerns bodies as they appear to us and as we perceive them directly by means of our eyes. By further research we have learnt that these bodies are built out of very small particles which we call atoms. Even though these atoms cannot be seen directly with the eye, yet we still have quite certain proofs of their existence and of many of their properties. The whole of our knowledge concerning the atomic structure of matter has been discussed in the second section. The work of the last few decades has allowed us to penetrate still further into the inner structure of matter. The structure of the atom itself is examined in the third section. Finally, there exists a whole series of phenomena, which have been explained on the assumption that, in addition to ponderable matters, there is something still else which fills all interstellar space, a medium which is called the aether. The phenomena which take place in this medium are discussed in the last section of the book.

In the present book those results of physical research which are of importance for an understanding of nature have been compiled in a short and, in so far as the author was capable, popular presentation. The whole can be arranged in four sections. The first section concerns bodies as they appear to us and as we perceive them directly by means of our eyes. By further research we have learnt that these bodies are built out of very small particles which we call atoms. Even though these atoms cannot be seen directly with the eye, yet we still have quite certain proofs of their existence and of many of their properties. The whole of our knowledge concerning the atomic structure of matter has been discussed in the second section. The work of the last few decades has allowed us to penetrate still further into the inner structure of matter. The structure of the atom itself is examined in the third section. Finally, there exists a whole series of phenomena, which have been explained on the assumption that, in addition to ponderable matters, there is something still else which fills all interstellar space, a medium which is called the aether. The phenomena which take place in this medium are discussed in the last section of the book.

Dieser Buchtitel ist Teil des Digitalisierungsprojekts Springer Book Archives mit Publikationen, die seit den Anfangen des Verlags von 1842 erschienen sind. Der Verlag stellt mit diesem Archiv Quellen fur die historische wie auch die disziplingeschichtliche Forschung zur Verfugung, die jeweils im historischen Kontext betrachtet werden mussen. Dieser Titel erschien in der Zeit vor 1945 und wird daher in seiner zeittypischen politisch-ideologischen Ausrichtung vom Verlag nicht beworben.

Die schone weite WeIt da drauBen, die uns rings umgibt, geht uns Menschen sehr nahe an. Denn was wiirde wohl aus uns werden, wenn wir von ihr nicht bestandig Luft, Nahrung, Kleidung, Wohnung erhielten? Darum konnen wir an der Natur gar nicht achtlos voriibergehen. Wir bewundern die Schonheit dieser Welt, ihrer Berge und Taler, ihrer Gletscher und Meere. Wir freuen uns ihres Reich turns, von dem sie freigebig uns bietet, wenn im Sommer vom Brotkorn schwer die Ahren sich neigen, wenn die Zweige der Baume, mit kostbaren Friichten beladen, tief zu Boden han gen, und wir genieBen dankbar ihre Gaben. Wir stehen zit ternd und ohnmachtig die Hande ringend da, wenn unge heure Wasserfluten den in jahrelanger Arbeit miihsam ge sammelten Reichtum verschlingen, wenn lohende Flammen ihn verzehren oder wenn plotzlich die Erde sich aufbaumt und mit Riesenfausten alles durcheinanderschiittelt, bis die Hauser der GroBen wie die Hiitten der Armen in Triimmern am Boden liegen."