DoE publishes review of cold fusion
The Department of Energy, Office of Science, has completed its review of cold fusion and published a report online. See: Report of the Review of Low Energy Nuclear Reactions. Seehttp://www.science.doe.gov/Sub/Newsroom/News_Releases/DOE-SC/2004/low_energy/
http://www.science.doe.gov/Sub/Newsroom/News_Releases/DOE-SC/2004/low_energy/CF_Final_120104.pdf
Overall, the review is inconclusive. It says, for example: "Two-thirds of the reviewers commenting on Charge Element 1 did not feel the evidence was conclusive for low energy nuclear reactions, one found the evidence convincing, and the remainder indicated they were somewhat convinced. Many reviewers noted that poor experiment design, documentation, background control and other similar issues hampered the understanding and interpretation of the results presented." Many in the cold fusion field share this complaint. However, this is a strawman that was not part of the charge given the reviewers. The reviewers were asked whether the claims, taken in total, are real and whether further study should be encouraged using a level of funding required to overcome these handicaps. To this charge, the response was lukewarm.
Nevertheless, like the ERAB Panel report, the reviewers recommended well designed proposals be submitted by individuals. This recommendation should be taken seriously, if for no other reason than to test the intent of the recommendation. The DOE now knows which of its reviewers will be fair in implementing such a recommendation and which will not. Therefore, DOE officials, who have the require imagination and who are concerned about developing the promise of this energy source, can now fund submitted proposals by using sympathetic reviewers. This is a big step forward.
The review has been added to our Library, see: http://lenr-canr.org/acrobat/DOEreportofth.pdf
