From: Bob Higgins
Just because Rossi knows of SiC tubes, doesn't mean that is what the hotCat was made from. It is the totality of evidence, and it makes far more sense to me than a "black paint" hypothesis for SS - which can serve no possible purpose on an interior surface, but would screw up the dimensions for a close fit especially on the interior of the tube. That rules out paint, in my estimation. Plus, I do not see Rossi even bringing up the subject of the SiC tubes at all, especially in his tribute to Focardi on the occasion of the great scientist's death - if the story were not extremely meaningful to him (Rossi). If he was not aware of the importance of that serendipity - then this is a story that never would have been told on such an occasion. Rossi may have even "slipped" in providing this anecdote, and given away a detail that he wishes he had not released to the public. Fortunately for him, very few people who heard this tribute to Focardi have put two and two together yet.
