Italian cold fusion machine passes another test

Despite a world of skepticism about E-Cat and other devices, proof is adding up

Italian physicist and inventor Andrea Rossi has conducted a public demonstration of his "cold fusion" machine, the E-Cat, at the University of Bologna, showing that a small amount of input energy drives an unexplained reaction between atoms of hydrogen and nickel that leads to a large outpouring of energy, more than 10 times what was put in.

The first seemingly successful cold fusion experiment was reported two decades ago, but the process has forever been met with heavy skepticism. It's a seemingly impossible process in which two types of atoms, typically a light element and a heavier metal, seem to fuse together, releasing pure heat that can be converted into electricity. The process is an attractive energy solution for two reasons: Unlike in nuclear fission, the reaction doesn't give off dangerous radiation. Unlike the fusion processes that take place in the sun, cold fusion doesn't require extremely high temperatures.

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It’s getting interesting. If a scam, it has now reached a major hurdle. In this world, of skepticism and contempt, of phone cameras and internet speed, it will be found out quickly. This cannot be hidden for long.

No patent? Always dubious.

The only reason it has yet to be debunked is that he is not letting people look at it and duplicate it.

I’m glad to see this story treated with skepticism by some, but disappointed that it’s not more. Because this story is replete with virtually every red flag imaginable for pseudoscience:

- The inventor has a history of making pseudoscientific miraculous energy claims that later proved false.
- The research has not been made available for peer review.
- Indeed, the inventors haven’t even thoroughly explained how their machine works at all.
- In lieu of peer review or independent verification, they held a public demonstration.
- Those who attended the public demonstration were apparently not allowed to take their own measurements or verify that the measurements being taken were accurate.
- Nor were attendees allowed to inspect the machine, or observe it for more than “a few brief moments.”
- There was a generator running that could explain the power that was ‘generated.’
- Instead of prioritizing independent scientific confirmation, Rossi has apparently instead prioritized setting up a company and selling his as-yet-unproven product.
- And this:

“Rossi claims his company, Leonardo Corp., will produce the E-Cat machine, which he first demonstrated earlier this year at the University of Bologna. Proof of the experiment’s success is that the customer will pay for the technology and start using it, he said. As for the skeptics, Rossi said he needs to prove the experiment only to his customer.”

That’s not good science AT ALL. Showing that people will by your product is NOT evidence that the product actually works, and the fact that Rossi would make such a statement at all ought to throw considerable suspicion. He seems to be demonstrating outright disdain for proving his own claims. That’s the kind of defense made for devices like that fake bomb detector in Iraq (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADE_651), and that even got people KILLED.

>> “If this isn’t a hoax, when the principles are fully understood, gasoline engines will become obsolete, petroleum rich countries will have their spigots of cash cut off, Almost every coal, nuclear, and gas fired power plant in the country will be shut down, gasoline and diesel engines will become obsolete. Jeez, talk about a game changer.” <<

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Duh!

Why do you suppose there are so many trolls on LENR threads?

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