OK, let's assume H2O is converted into H'2O. Let's also assume that this substance has energy that can be exploited. What is the "exhaust" of such a system?
It can't be much else than H and O, I would presume (and hope - even if we can transmute them into something else, we'll run out of water.) Or maybe H'. What happens to them after that? How will we get the water back? What mechanism would *add* energy that we extracted to produce the water?
The article does not talk about it, saying instead "just take more water." But there is only so much water on Earth. We must have a process that converts the exhaust back into water; and if we extracted energy from water, the laws of physics tell us that someone has to spend energy to recreate the water. What is the source of that energy?
It may be, of course, "dark matter" and "dark energy," but then I'd like to see a 1 GW power plant first. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof.
Nope. Science has no such requirement. Replicated experiments as normal.
we’ll run out of water.
***Not bloody likely. There’s enough energy in one gallon of sea water as 50 gallons of gasoline.