Re: Dissident science.

[Chuck Britton <britton@odie.ncssm.edu>]

> The real problem is with
> "science zenophobia".  Identical negative sentiments have been expressed
> against Cold Fusion in major science publications in the past.  Cold
> Fusion is not being researched, but NOT because it doesn't work.  The real
> reason is demonstrated by the hostile response.
>
> It is one thing if an effect is researched and found not to exist.  But it
> is quite different if the majority of scientists have a nasty emotional
> reaction (in my experience they do.)  Then there is no question that the
> whole topic is a taboo realm of physics.  If a science journal dares to
> publish a positive "cold fusion" paper, it will receive thousands of
> hostile letters, therefor we see no research papers in the mainstream
> press.  It doesn't matter if the effects are real or not.  It doesn't
> matter if an an Arthur C. Clarke (or even an Einstein or a Feynman) tries
> to set the record straight about a subject which has become "taboo", any
> attempts to do so will simply turn their supporters against them.  Look at
> Brian Josephson and his support of parapsychology, or Linus Pauling and
> his Vitamin-C, both of them damaged their reputations by supporting some
> highly "taboo" areas of science, regardless of their Nobelist status.

If my memory serves me correctly, there was GREAT interest in the science
community when the Cold Fusion results were first announced. There
certainly was skepticism as well, mainly because of the non-traditional
method of announcement. But there were MANY physics departments who jumped
on the chance to verify the effect. It was (and still IS) a cheap, easy
experiment to set up and run. The only danger seems to be to avoid igniting
the H2 and O2 that are produced by electrolysis. No neutron radiation has
been confirmed (which is also a source of skepticism). Since the experiment
HAS been repeatedly tried and found to not exist IS valid reason for
skepticism.

Locally, I was aware of experiments done here at Duke as well as a few
groups in Georgia.

It's no accident that stressed		Chuck Britton
spelled backwards is desserts.		britton@odie.ncssm.edu