Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: PatrickHenry

Cold Fusion alert. Extraordinary claims, require extraordinary proof alert too.


3 posted on 08/18/2006 7:39:13 AM PDT by tdewey10 (Can we please take out Iran's nuclear capability before they start using it?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: tdewey10

Cold fusion no, Hot air, yes.


4 posted on 08/18/2006 7:40:22 AM PDT by vimto (Blighty Awaken!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies ]

To: tdewey10

I suspect it's getting energy from somewhere, if it works.

I agree - if they want a rigorous examination then give them one. If, against all odds, they are actually on to something then all the better.


9 posted on 08/18/2006 7:44:13 AM PDT by linear (Nuance treats reality as a mere Rorschach test.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies ]

To: tdewey10
Extraordinary claims, require extraordinary proof alert too.

I'm as much a skeptic about this process as you are but I don't agree with this statement. In bayesian terms, you have a strong prior probability of ~ 1 for a proposition such as "it is impossible to produce energy by starting in a state and then returning to an identical state" (which is what I think the article describes). But that proposition is falsifiable by a single contrary example.

It should be a solidly controlled single example. I'd want to see it replicated several times--that reflects the strength of the prior probability. But I think the statement about extraordinary claims requiring extraordinary belief is just a way to stop discussion about subjects the speaker doesnt' want to talk about.

67 posted on 08/18/2006 8:31:16 AM PDT by ModelBreaker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies ]

To: tdewey10
Cold Fusion alert. Extraordinary claims, require extraordinary proof alert too.

If they are ready for peer review then I think they just might have something here.

91 posted on 08/18/2006 9:20:47 AM PDT by Centurion2000 (Islam is a subsingularity memetic perversion : (http://www.orionsarm.com/topics/perversities.html))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies ]

To: tdewey10

Cold fusion doesn't violate the laws of physics. This "free energy" device sounds like it does.


131 posted on 08/18/2006 11:20:06 AM PDT by Junior (Identical fecal matter, alternate diurnal period)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies ]

To: tdewey10

"Cold Fusion alert."

Naa. Cold fusion actually works. This is baloney.


194 posted on 08/19/2006 7:19:07 AM PDT by Flightdeck
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson