Tesla interview  (1931 New York Times)

From https://teslauniverse.com/nikola-tesla/articles/tesla-75-predicts-new-p…

"Does your process have to do with atomic energy?"

"The idea of atomic energy," he answered, "is illusionary, but it has taken so powerful a hold on the minds that, although I have preached against it for twenty~five years, there still are some who believe it to be realizable.

"I have disintegrated atoms in my experiments with a high potential vacuum tube I brought out in 1896, which I consider one of my best inventions. I have operated it with pressures ranging from 4,000,000 to 18,000,000 volts. More recently I have designed an apparatus for 50,000,000 volts which should produce many results of great scientific importance.

"But as to atomic energy, my experimental observations have shown that the process of disintegration is not accompanied by a liberation of such energy as might be expected from the present theories."

"What is your opinion of the source and the nature of the cosmic ray?" he was asked.

Confirmed Theory In 1899.

"I called attention" he said, "to the probable existence of this radiation while investigating Roentgen rays and radioactivity. In 1899 I erected a broadcasting plant at Colorado Springs, the first and only wireless plant in existence at that time, and there confirmed my theory by actual observation. My findings are in disagreement with the theories more recently advanced.

"I have satisfied myself that the rays are not generated by the formation of new matter in space, a process which would be like water running up hill. Nor do they come to any appreciable amount from the stars. According to my investigations the sun emits a radiation of such a penetrative power that it is virtually impossible to absorb it in lead or other substances.

"It has, furthermore, other extraordinary properties in regard to which I shall express myself at some future date. This ray, which I call the primary solar ray, gives rise to a secondary radiation by impact against the cosmic dust scattered through space. It is the secondary radiation which now is commonly called the cosmic ray, and comes, of course, equally from all directions in space."

The inventor advanced his theory that the phenomena of radioactivity are not the result of forces within the radioactive substances but are caused by this ray emitted by the sun. If radium could be screened effectively against this ray it would cease to be radioactive, he said.

Notes:

This interview with Tesla hold important viewpoints of him.

SAM in in full agreement with Tesla.The atom is an  energy-less construct of electron and protons. (see description on pages - The theory)

Radioactive elements as they are called, are a construct that can 'decay' further into a more energy-less 'ground-state. This balance is with the energy that is available in its environment described in the above text. Hence the readioactive decay is not intrinsique change based, but a result of the energy / radiation that every now and then triggers the reaction on an 'unstable' isotope.