[The Raven]

They're downplaying it.

[ovrtaxt]

Cool. Maybe a neat new bubble fusion gun for the Special Ops boys in the future? Maybe I can program a plug in for Quake....

[Naspino]

We shouldn't allow this type of research to be shared. It should be owned by the United States alone.

[Movemout]

ORNL has impressive capabilities and is one of the most interesting places I have ever visited. Most of the national labs are filled with superb people. I'm glad they are on our side.

[HiTech RedNeck]

If they're getting bubbles "the size of a pencil top eraser" by irradiating with neutrons, why doesn't the agitation splash the acetone all over the place. Also why the wimpy shielding if they expect it to produce more neutrons (let alone the original neutrons)... paraffin blocks?!? It ought to be behind some thick lead.

[Dan Day]

The celebrated work had not undergone peer review and when scientists around the globe failed to reproduce their results, the affair turned into one giant embarrassment for the Utah professors and science in general.

Horse manure.

"Science in general" came out smelling like a rose, because the debacle demonstrated that the scientific method, and scientists worldwide, "police their own" just fine. A paper based on faulty method was published, and the subsequent reproduction of the experiment (or more accurately, the lack thereof) and peer review tested it and properly found it wanting.

What actually earned the "giant embarrassment" was the *media*, which jumped to conclusions, shouted from the rooftops, and made a mountain out of this molehill before it had been properly examined, and certain glory-hound scientists who properly received their comeuppance for their preference for the spotlight over careful methodology.

[Justa]

Well, supposedly this occurs in acetone. Acetone is highly volatile. So how hot are they gonna be able to get that to fuel a heat exchanger? And what's the density of these reactions? Heating up a bunch of acetone a few degrees just won't cut it.

[aruanan]

See the interesting, related cavitation research HERE (as well as a review of the field up through 1998). Go HERE for other papers on CANR (chemically assisted nuclear reactions).

[RogueIsland]

a problem known as premature cavitation

They might want to see a specialist about that.

[JMK]

"...a problem known as premature cavitation."

Ya gotta hate when that happens....

[aruanan]

The celebrated work had not undergone peer review and when scientists around the globe failed to reproduce their results, the affair turned into one giant embarrassment for the Utah professors and science in general.

Except that since then scientists around the world have reproduced their results (and have found many other ways of producing similar results). The very last phrase goes a long way to explaining the reason for the almost hysterical censorship that has characterized things ever since.

[Free the USA]

Check the Bump List folders for articles related to the above topic(s) or for other topics of interest.

[antaresequity]

So...If "We" figure this fusion stuff out, the next question that begs is:

Do we share this with the world, or capitalize on our inginuity and exploit it for every dime its worth?

I am a sick greedy capitalist so I vote to use it to put the likes of OPEC out of business, sanction its use to achieve our geo-political ends, and become stinkin filthy rich...what are your thoughts? I aplogize for being so subtle.

[RightWhale]

Attempt to "scale up" the experiment to evaluate the bubble technique's potential as an energy source

He might scale up a little, but commercial power generation seems unlikely. Still, a smaller power supply might be possible, one that would work aboard a satellite or space probe with many advantages, some political.

[AFreeBird]

ping