Here is an exchange of messages between Marissa Little, Steve Krivit, and me.
- Jed
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From: Marissa Little
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 5:10 PM
Subject: CMNS: EarthTech's Dash-Zhang experiment
Thanks to John's recent reminder, we've finally completed the report
of our effort to verify the excess heat claims of John Dash and Wu-shou Zhang.
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From: Steven Krivit <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Failure to replicate means failure to replicate
Dear Marissa and Scott Little,
I am sure that you do excellent work at Earthtech and you are making
contributions to the CMNS field.
However, I wish to point out to you that failure to replicate means
failure to replicate, nothing more.
Your statement in the CMNS list about your attempt to verify John
Dash's excess heat result is misleading and unscientific.
You cannot verify Dash's claims, or for that matter anybody's claims.
That would be a misrepresentation; you can only attempt to replicate,
and you will, or will not have success in your attempt.
The next time you purport to "verify" anybody's claim, I suggest
instead that you use the phrase "effort to replicate the claim."
Thank you,
Steven B. Krivit
Editor, New Energy Times
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To: Steven Krivit <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Failure to replicate means failure to replicate
Well said. Even if Little had replicated that would not "verify" the
claim. It would, perhaps, bolster it, unless Little's work was
sloppy, in which case it would not add or subtract anything.
The first independent replication of Fleischmann and Pons did not
"verify" it once and for all. There was still plenty of room for
doubt. Although, I would say the first 10 quality replications did.
Enough replications do add up to verification. But Little has never
been able to replicate any cold fusion experiment, so obviously he
lacks essential skills or tools. Unless you want to conclude that his
results outweigh replications in hundreds of major labs.
- Jed
