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BBC Horizon: Nuclear Fusion
In March 2002, the scientific world was rocked by some astonishing news: a distinguished US government scientist claimed he had made nuclear fusion out of sound waves in his laboratory. RT 48:53.
Rusi Taleyarkhan's breakthrough was such important news because nuclear fusion is one of the most difficult scientific processes, and also one of the most coveted. It could solve all of our energy problems for ever. In principle, sufficient fuel exists on earth to provide clean, pollution-free energy for billions of people for millions of years.
Rusi Taleyarkhan's breakthrough was such important news because nuclear fusion is one of the most difficult scientific processes, and also one of the most coveted. It could solve all of our energy problems for ever. In principle, sufficient fuel exists on earth to provide clean, pollution-free energy for billions of people for millions of years.
Apr 26, 2008 3:37 AM
Re: BBC Horizon: Nuclear Fusion
HA I just watched this yesterday on Stumble Upon. Does anyone think it is strange that the scientific community can find such a strange phenomena such as Sonoluminescence and then not go any further to continue research, much less banish anyone who does?
By: cneetz
Re: BBC Horizon: Nuclear Fusion
Yeah... I'm not a scientist, but I was wondering about that, too. Also, I do know enough to understand that BBC's experiment had far to many differences from Taleyarkhan's experiment--and thus, too many variables introduced--to claim a conclusive debunking.
By: Oh-Deeh
Re: BBC Horizon: Nuclear Fusion
From what I've read in order for the experiment to work you'd need to disprove much of our current understanding of nuclear chemistry. Whenever someone makes a claim as grand as this it must stand up to a lot of criticism and must be repeatable.
There are flaws with the peer reviewing and funding system, but if only Taleyarkhan can preform the experiment it's not scientific.
There are flaws with the peer reviewing and funding system, but if only Taleyarkhan can preform the experiment it's not scientific.
By: slage123
Re: BBC Horizon: Nuclear Fusion
One thing that bothered me was the mention of the sound frequency used. Why couldn't they match the sound frequency that was used in the original experiment?
From what I got out of the video there are lots of variables required to get the needed temp. to produce fusion. If your really trying to reproduce someones work then wouldn't you actually reproduce it?
From what I got out of the video there are lots of variables required to get the needed temp. to produce fusion. If your really trying to reproduce someones work then wouldn't you actually reproduce it?
By: Wreck
Re: BBC Horizon: Nuclear Fusion
You don't need to be a scientist to tell that Taleyarkhan is hiding something. His unwillingness to take part in the experiment is highly suspect. Any scientist who actually knows their experiment works: would be killing to get the experiment recreated for the sake of verification and further application of that experiment. Sorry to say: he's a charlatan.
By: EmanResu
Re: BBC Horizon: Nuclear Fusion
Follow the history of this case, "EmanResu," and you'll eat your words.
Dr. Taleyarkhan's results HAVE been replicated by numerous parties. Steve Krivit, a leading investigative journalist of the New Energy Times, had looked into Taleyarkhan's case and published his findings last July. They can been found atnewenergytimes.com/news/2007/NET23.htm#bubble.
This seems to be a smear campaign in every sense against Dr. Taleyarkhan.
Other newspapers carrying the story about Dr. Taleyarkhan suing his detractors have published details of this case that hinted at reports of detailed accounts of the detractors at Purdue engaging in egregious displays of unethical and unprofessional behavior, and bouts of extreme racism, that too, despite they themselves being immigrants.
Plus, don't you feel that the WAY in which Purdue has handled the case hints at the fact that maybe PURDUE may have something to hide?
Go back a few years, when the first detractors from Purdue (Lefteri Tsoukalas--the former head of Nuclear Engineering at Purdue, and a woman named Jevermovic) announced to the world press (that too, AGAINST University regulations for reporting misconduct) that Taleyarkhan was a fraud. Not long after, Tsoukalas mysteriously prematurely "resigned" from his position as head--coincidence?
Also keep in mind that Purdue HAD performed a full-blown investigation into the misconduct case against Dr. Taleyarkhan, and Taleyarkhan had been found NOT guilty of any wrongdoings.
But that just didn't sit well with the detractors (think about it: wouldn't that make THEM look bad?). According to reports on the case, the detractors then saw to it that members of Congress received a nasty note demanding that the case be reopened.
Now, the case HAS been reopened, only this time, Congress is right there, seemingly twisting the arm of Purdue (being a public institution) to find something wrong--anything, just as long as the detractors don't look bad.
If you ask me, the wrong party is being investigated for misconduct.
Dr. Taleyarkhan's results HAVE been replicated by numerous parties. Steve Krivit, a leading investigative journalist of the New Energy Times, had looked into Taleyarkhan's case and published his findings last July. They can been found atnewenergytimes.com/news/2007/NET23.htm#bubble.
This seems to be a smear campaign in every sense against Dr. Taleyarkhan.
Other newspapers carrying the story about Dr. Taleyarkhan suing his detractors have published details of this case that hinted at reports of detailed accounts of the detractors at Purdue engaging in egregious displays of unethical and unprofessional behavior, and bouts of extreme racism, that too, despite they themselves being immigrants.
Plus, don't you feel that the WAY in which Purdue has handled the case hints at the fact that maybe PURDUE may have something to hide?
Go back a few years, when the first detractors from Purdue (Lefteri Tsoukalas--the former head of Nuclear Engineering at Purdue, and a woman named Jevermovic) announced to the world press (that too, AGAINST University regulations for reporting misconduct) that Taleyarkhan was a fraud. Not long after, Tsoukalas mysteriously prematurely "resigned" from his position as head--coincidence?
Also keep in mind that Purdue HAD performed a full-blown investigation into the misconduct case against Dr. Taleyarkhan, and Taleyarkhan had been found NOT guilty of any wrongdoings.
But that just didn't sit well with the detractors (think about it: wouldn't that make THEM look bad?). According to reports on the case, the detractors then saw to it that members of Congress received a nasty note demanding that the case be reopened.
Now, the case HAS been reopened, only this time, Congress is right there, seemingly twisting the arm of Purdue (being a public institution) to find something wrong--anything, just as long as the detractors don't look bad.
If you ask me, the wrong party is being investigated for misconduct.
By: newscientst
Re: BBC Horizon: Nuclear Fusion
Yeah, you haven't proven anything in your statement, that and the article you're citing are speculative. Bottom line: his results still haven't been recreated. That's what makes a theory into fact. I hope he could create fusion, really I do, but, four years later, it doesn't look good.
By: EmanResu
Re: BBC Horizon: Nuclear Fusion
I ask you again: Read up on it. You'll find that 2 independent parties HAVE reproduced/recreated his results. And in the science world, even ONE independent reproduction is enough.
Also, before you go around claiming fraud (and not just you--all who are speculative of results such as these that cannot be recreated 100% of the time), remember that fusion is something that happens in the interior of the SUN--those are HOT conditions they are trying to reproduce.
Even current methods (again, before blindly dismissing what I am saying, read up on it) used to produce fusion are notoriously unpredictable, and very difficult to recreate. Yet nobody is claiming fraudulent results on the scientists who are performing THOSE experiments.
No, this appears by all means to be nothing but a posse of "scientists" who are hellbent on defaming a fellow scientist/researcher.
And think about it: this could turn out to be a multi-TRILLION dollar industry. Wouldn't you want in on it?
The detractors (and not just those from Purdue)--Seth Putterman, for example--are also made up of scientists who were in the race for "finding fusion"--which has been dubbed the "holy grail" to physics.
As one of the US generals who had been witness to one of the first positive results of Taleyarkhan's work reportedly said, "What you're seeing, ladies and gentlemen, is sour grapes: The detractors are just mad because he [Dr. Taleyarkhan] got to the prize before they did."
And what he said makes sense. Other detractors (such as the ones from Purdue) are those who are not even remotely proficient in Dr. Taleyarkhan's field of study.
So what dictates that those people have the right to claim fraudulent results when they lack the background necessary to give them that privilege?
Also, before you go around claiming fraud (and not just you--all who are speculative of results such as these that cannot be recreated 100% of the time), remember that fusion is something that happens in the interior of the SUN--those are HOT conditions they are trying to reproduce.
Even current methods (again, before blindly dismissing what I am saying, read up on it) used to produce fusion are notoriously unpredictable, and very difficult to recreate. Yet nobody is claiming fraudulent results on the scientists who are performing THOSE experiments.
No, this appears by all means to be nothing but a posse of "scientists" who are hellbent on defaming a fellow scientist/researcher.
And think about it: this could turn out to be a multi-TRILLION dollar industry. Wouldn't you want in on it?
The detractors (and not just those from Purdue)--Seth Putterman, for example--are also made up of scientists who were in the race for "finding fusion"--which has been dubbed the "holy grail" to physics.
As one of the US generals who had been witness to one of the first positive results of Taleyarkhan's work reportedly said, "What you're seeing, ladies and gentlemen, is sour grapes: The detractors are just mad because he [Dr. Taleyarkhan] got to the prize before they did."
And what he said makes sense. Other detractors (such as the ones from Purdue) are those who are not even remotely proficient in Dr. Taleyarkhan's field of study.
So what dictates that those people have the right to claim fraudulent results when they lack the background necessary to give them that privilege?
By: newscientst
