Cold Fusion.

[Saeltari]

Interesting even if it is not what the Navy is claiming.

-> Scientists in possible cold fusion breakthrough

 

[Scifi fan]

If it's not what the Navy is claiming, what is it, then?

I hope it's true, though, because this could solve a lot of our problems.

 

[Nik]

moRe: Cold Fusion.

I hope they have found *fusion* neutrons, because F&P could fill a book with detractors' apologies...

So, semi-duplication of their initial rig didn't work, that's just cutting-edge research with a raft of potential variables, many unknowable without 2020 (CE) hindsight. IIRC, a lot of superconductivity work has proven *very* difficult to reproduce, while some exasperating alloys work but once, briefly, then re-crystallise...

There was certainly no call for the fire-storm of vituperation: It wasn't as if they were playing with N-rays...
N ray - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Snag, as hot-fusion folk found back in the 50s, is that there are low-probability reaction pathways that produce *some* neutrons under modest conditions. You can build a science-club rig to do it, but those processes do not readily scale to 'break-even', never mind 'economic'. Five weary decades on, the now-multinational tokomaks are creeping up on the issues...

Gotta wonder if Bussard's Polywell whiffle ball approach will trump them all: At least the power factors seem to scale well...

 

[mosaix]

Only just seen this thread.

Analog had an excellent piece on this in their March 2009 issue. Well worth reading.

Alternate View--Analog