Ultimately, Alsos? hard work paid off and they discovered the true reason why Terres-Rares? thorium supplies had been confiscated: the Auer Company, recognizing that the end of the war was near, and concerned about the consequent loss of business, concluded that there was no better future for their company than in cosmetics and related consumer products! Radium had already been used in toothpaste (Radiogen), why not use thorium instead? Auer had the patent, and with the thorium in hand they were ready to hit the ground running. They even formulated the following potential advertisement: "Use toothpaste with thorium! Have sparkling, brilliant teeth?radioactive brilliance!"
LOL