http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/23803/
Do the Italians believe in 'coincidence' ? (i.e. that aligned events which are apparently unconnected are not truly random but are meme-influenced) The title of one of the papers is "Can Pressure Waves Speed Up Nuclear Decay?" by Fabio Cardone in Rome. The fizzix mainstream jumped on it with a special vengeance. Other papers have followed on the same theme - dubbed 'piezo-fission' but it is probably a form of inner electron capture (K-capture) brought about by kinetic disruption, possibly involving "superwaves". "Piezonuclear decay of Thorium" is the most intriguing, especially in the context of the 'Cincinnati group'. Such quips as "Is it possible to speed up radioactive decay by squeezing atoms?" belie the real M.O. - but anyway Fabio Cardone, at the Institute of Nanostructured Materials in Rome is not backing down, and is sticking by his rapid-firing guns. The repercussions are strong, but you expect that from sonofusion, no? Cardone reported robust neutron emissions when granite or marble is crushed. Both of these minerals can have about 4-5 ppm of uranium and/or thorium. The conjecture is that crushing causes piezonuclear fission - of either the heavy nuclei or else of iron (transmuting into aluminum). Either way, there is some possible cross-connection to Andrea Rossi, not far away. That would be assuming that Rossi is using piezo techniques too, which is a brand new and unproved suggestion (originating last night, as a matter of fact). You heard it first on vortex :-) What gives? Is this coincidence, the power of memes (by way of the WWW) or else, dare we say it. the emergence of a New Roman Empire in high-tech? Jones
