My Legacy

It is year 1936 and I can feel that I am near the end of my life. However, it is such a blessing that I created a nuclear physics legacy. All the work that I have done, I believe, has been my purpose in life and my research will indeed benefit the scientific community. To summarize all my contributions in scientific research;I have established the real,nuclear structure of the atom and confirmed all other controversial explanations of the atom as invalid."The subject was scientifically interesting because it gave insight into the atoms." Democritus, the Greek philosopher, proposed the atom as indivisible. However, with my gold foil experiment and Geiger-Marsden experiment, I was able to support the idea that the atom is in fact, divisible. The atom is composed of three different particles:the neutron, electron, and proton-the proton and the neutron are particles in the nucleus. How remarkable is this discovery! All these I have confirmed and I have officially challenged all other confrontations to the existence of atoms. In addition I laid the foundation to radioactive decay. During my investigation of radioactivity, I established new scientific vocabulary. Alpha, beta, and gamma were the words. Yes, I did it all with the help of my assistants. All my achievements were recognized and praised. I am remembered and honored by the element Rutherfordium and praised by the statue of me in Brightwater, New Zealand. I must be off now, researching with the time that I have left....
Adieu,