At 08:47 AM 9/10/2009, you wrote:
I couldn't agree more, this is well illustrated IMHO in Earthtech's
CR-39 experiments, where thanks to this "variational" method they
showed that the SPAWAR pits could be obtained in a shorter time (3
days instead of 3 weeks), or with cheaper plating metals (Cu or Ni
instead of Pd), or without magnets, here is the link again:
http://www.earthtech.org/CR39/index.html
Michel
2009/9/9 Alexander Hollins <[email protected]>:
> isnt designing and refining experiments, removing uncontrolled
> variables, and then repeating hte hell out of something until you stop
> getting new data, a major part of science?
Absolutely, this is science. There is such a thing as a fully
independent replication; the kits, obviously, will not be that, and
therefore will not, by themselves, convince die-hard skeptics. But
this is pre-independent-replication. Because this will be a project
to *manufacture* kits ready-to-go, the protocol must be *fully*
specified, nothing left to "art," though all developed from art.
Anyone who wants to do a full replication, and is willing to spend
the higher cost, will be able to do it, we will be facilitating that
by providing the manufacturing documentation.
If this were a pure for-profit company, that purpose only, we would
not release the full documentation, we'd consider it a trade secret.
So we have a mixed purpose. Profit is important, because we need this
thing to be self-sustaining, including return on investment, but the
overall plan is a social and scientific experiment, for public benefit.
So we *might* first form a nonprofit corporation to facilitate this,
and solicit contributions. It's one of the ideas to be discussed, and
any caucus can go ahead and do it. Or maybe an existing nonprofit
would take this on.
