- Uncle Martin: First, I'll make a cyclotron.
- Tim O'Hara: An atom smasher?
- Uncle Martin: Uh-huh. Use a few parts from the spaceship, and pick up a few odds and ends here and there.
- Tim O'Hara: Now just one second. Do you mean to tell me you intend to build a cyclotron here in my kitchen?
- Uncle Martin: Just a teeny-weeny one.
- Tim O'Hara: Why don't you just get away from this machine for awhile, hm? Now I have to go over to the university and interview a child prodigy. It might be very interesting to you. Why don't you come along? He's the youngest student in the university, thirteen years old, physics major, I.Q. of 190.
- Uncle Martin: On Mars he'd be considered retarded.
- Donald Mumford: Cobalt and silicon? A very interesting combination. We could call the new element silibalt.
- Uncle Martin: I prefer that to Colicon, which really sounds like a new soft drink.
- Donald Mumford: I must admit you're remarkably progressive for an adult. No old-fashioned theories. You're, well, down to earth.
- Uncle Martin: Only lately, Donald, only lately.