Is Iron Causing All the Flares?

Universe Today ^ | 11/18/03

[Cold Heat]

The center of the earth is iron,

Yeah, and the Earth is a planet, and not a nuclear reaction.

If the solar flare was comprised of iron, don't ya think we would know? Or at least be suspicious. Or have some data to indicate iron content, or something?

[Arkinsaw]

The point is that he has earned the label by pushing his ideas. True scientists simply present their ideas. If the ideas catch on it is the merit of the ideas that does this. No amount of salesmanship can do anything but bring labels like 'kook.' If the papers are repeatedly referenced, quoted, then the author has done about the most expected of a scientist.

I'm not sure what in the article leads you to the conclusion that he has "pushed" his ideas any more than anyone else. It looks like he has published his ideas, presented them at conferences, and apparently answered questions about his presentation to "Universe Today".

Do you know more about him than the article relates?

[MineralMan]

"High temps are required to melt. Normal state is what it is. The normal space conditions. Usually in the very cold category. Iron would be a solid and likely a dust. It cannot be compressed as a gas can and it is not known to react with anything but oxygen. "

Silliness. Normal space conditions include the conditions in stars. Iron would melt quite nicely under those conditions and even vaporise.

Further, if it were vaporized, you could compress that gas, just as you can any other gas. Finally, Iron forms sulfides and carbonates quite naturally, since they occur right here on this planet. I'm afraid it's time for a refresher course in basic physics and chemistry.

[JmyBryan]

We all know that nothing good comes from violence, so the supernova cosmos birth theory is necessarily wrong.

(sarcasm)

[Cobra Scott]

Uhh, the reason this is now coming to light is because for 40 odd years he has been pursuing this scientifically, not via crackpot press. But you will find little in astrophysical publications, so look in chemistry and geology references. The "shocking revelation" style above is just poof press material.

[LibWhacker]

Now, now . . . Let's be fair . . . I didn't call anyone a crackpot. I simply asked about the publishing journal's reputation.

BTW, I used to work for some crackpots at Harvard. Every one of them had a bibliography that was more impressive than Manuel's, ito, length, quality of the journals that published them, etc. But their "science" was bull. They were fudgers. That's why I quit.

[Cold Heat]

I am a electrician and not a dirt doctor.

When something I read flies in the face of what I read previously and know as fact, then I will challenge it.

If you are a dirt doctor, then challenge this wacko and not me.

What I know about the sun came from NOAA. I consider their data to be true.

BTW, I have used plasma cutters, welders and worked for a steel foundry. I know what iron can and can't do.

There is no such thing as iron gas as far as I know. It forms compounds and alloys, or it oxidizes and is destroyed or turns into something else. It cannot exist as a gas.

[Arkinsaw]

Now, now . . . Let's be fair . . . I didn't call anyone a crackpot.

My post was generically questioning calling him a crackpot on this thread. Honestly, I did not consider your specific comment as anything other than a question.

[cookcounty]

"Iron cannot in a normal state, be in gaseous form or any other form but a solid."

I don't know squat about this, but I'm prettty sure that whatever is at the core of the sun probably is not "in a normal state."

[Cold Heat]

whatever is at the core of the sun probably is not "in a normal state."

Oh for cryin out loud!

I made that statement to question how that much iron got collected in one place.

Hydrogen is a gas, and compresses easily and moves about freely.

Iron does not and is not present in the large amounts like hydrogen is.

We have some pretty good ideas how stars are formed. Iron has not been mentioned very much.

[Alamo-Girl]

For your information...

[headsonpikes]

Bump yours.

And that Bose-Einstein thingy scares the crap out of me!

[RightWhale]

Do you know more about him than the article relates?

Right, but not first-hand. He seems to be just an ordinary scientist who has put forth a speculation. All scientists do that, play what-if, just not in public. For science to exist at all it is vitally important that published articles be beyond reproach. Even if it is scribbled on the bottom of a pizza box at a physics conference, it better be good, or you'll be remembered as somewhat halfbaked.

[Arkinsaw]

There is no such thing as iron gas as far as I know.

Just because we don't know things does not make them automatically untrue.

Google will lead you to new knowlege. Iron Gas on Google

[aomagrat]

The real cause of the flares.

[Arkinsaw]

All scientists do that, play what-if, just not in public.

It looks like the reporter picked up on the paper he submitted and asked him to explain it for the story. I'm not sure that responding to the reporter would be considered "pushing it" on his colleagues or seeking attention or being involved in unseemly behavior. Sometimes, when people call you and ask for explanation, you do it.

[RightWhale]

The "shocking revelation" style above is just poof press material.

Where there's smoke, there's fire. Maybe that's not always true, but it works 95% of the time and there is so much to do one can't waste time trying to find the 1 in 20. If someone hasn't been a stickler for the rules of doing science, move on.

[LibWhacker]

Thanks. I do find the entire notion very interesting -- and very bizarre . . . A supernova collapsing back on itself and burning once again -- at least by all outward appearances -- as a normal star would. And to be in a stable state long enough for intelligent life to evolve on one of its inner planets, all maintained for the most part by the residual heat of the neutron star at its core. Can't say that isn't fascinating!

[RightWhale]

The researcher has been pushing his iron star hypothesis for quite some time. IMO he could have been more productive with his time.

[r9etb]

Here's is a link to The Journal of Fusion Energy.

Its Editorial Staff appears to be made up of some folks who are at least conversant with the topic.

It doesn't appear to be devoted to a whole lot of really hard-core stuff.