I wrote that the U.S. government "has done more for cold fusion than
all private industry in the world combined." It is also more open
minded and fair than most private and corporate organizations such as
the Scientific American. To give an example, Frank Znidarsic sent me
a photo the other day that he took inside the Museum of Science and
Energy at Oak Ridge. It says:
"Cold fusion -- Fact or Fiction
In 1989 chemists at the University of Utah said they created
sustained cold fusion. The chemists reportedly used little more than
water, wire and electricity. They said they did not need the extreme
heat 'hot' fusion requires.
Scientists around the world were excited by the report. Many tried to
copy the Utah experiment. No one has re-created the results as they
were first reported. Some scientists have confirmed parts of the
experiment, though.
We still do not have a final answer on cold fusion. Many scientists
doubt the Utah results. Others say that something is happening, but
it isn't fusion. Still others think it is cold fusion or an unknown
reaction. So, the debate and the research continue. . . ."
[Plus photo and additional text]
Frank says the curator was asked to take the placard down, but "for
now it is staying."
No other public or private museum in the world would allow this
placard. Hell will freeze over before the Scientific American or the
Washington Post will allow a statement like this. Only the federal
government is even-handed, open minded, and fair enough to allow
this, and -- for more importantly -- to fund some research at places
like the NRL and SRI through DARPA.
Let us give credit where it is due.
- Jed
