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The Suppression of Fuel Savers and Alternate Energy Resources 469
Cold Fusion—Investigations
Continue Despite Ridicule
From Skeptics
Cold fusion work continues. Technology Forecasts & Technology
Surveys reports that, in spite of allegations that there is nothing
to the observations, a number of labs continue to be intrigued
by the unexplained parts of the phenomenon. They report that
50 U.S. labs and 100 labs in other countries are running tests,
60 groups in ten countries have reported results, some of the
groups have claimed observation of more than one of the three
generally accepted requirements for nuclear fusion, and some
tests have produced as much as 600 times more heat than
would be accounted for by the input of electrical power.
—Technology Forecasts & Technological
Surveys, Vol. 22, No. 9, page 11
one that is not, but whether we, the public, should be asked to entrust millions
of pounds of research funds to people who appear resistant to accepting
the reality of a process such as cold fusion, for which there is substantial
evidence and which may in the long term produce energy far more
cheaply than the hot fusion process.
At quite an early stage in the affair, Harwell nuclear research laboratory
began to worry about fusion becoming the province of every man.
Members of the public were apparently telephoning Harwell and asking
for advice on how to perform cold fusion experiments. "I have had many
odd calls from people," a spokesman told the Daily Telegraph in April,
"saying they are going to set it up at home to make it work. One housewife
claimed that she already had supplies of heavy water and was asking
me for details of how to set up the experiment. I had to tell her it would
be extremely unwise." The paper then costed the experiment at £28
[$44.80] for some platinum, £31 [$49.60] for the palladium, £6 [$9.60]
for some lithium chloride and £18 [$28.80] for the heavy water. With a
few pounds for batteries, test-tubes and the like, the total could come to as
little as £90, leading the paper to suggest that concern was mounting for
the "retired professors, cranks and housewives" who they thought might
be joining the race to produce fusion on their kitchen tables.