Cold fusion-it's back according to 60 minutes.

[riverdeep]

This past Sunday, 60 minutes issued a fascinating report on a subject many believe is the poster child for junk science, cold fusion. They showed how many legitimate scientists the world over are performing intriguing experiments that, if accurate, will change the course of all of our lives in ways we can't even begin to comprehend. Imagine an energy source that is clean, cheap, accessible and safe.

But then, just as quickly as it was announced, it was discredited. So thoroughly, that cold fusion became a catch phrase for junk science. Well, a funny thing happened on the way to oblivion - for many scientists today, cold fusion is hot again.

See the whole piece or read transcript here:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/17/60minutes/main4952167.shtml

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Cold fusion is a not a big deal.

People have observed table top fusion in labs since the early 20th century.

Hell, if you have a tank full of hydrogen, you'll have some cold fusion occuring, albeit at a very slow rate.

Which is the same problem with all of these cold fusion. Sure, they get cold fusion to occur, but never fast enough to have a net energy gain.

Given that this Navy group already had a modern detector and couldn't see anything, then had to upgrade before the saw any helium suggests that the amount of helium formed isn't impressive at all.

[riverdeep]

2. Are you talking about DARPA?

If so, the story does mention them.

"And we've found that the Pentagon is saying it too. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, known as DARPA, did its own analysis and 60 Minutes obtained an internal memo that concludes there is "no doubt that anomalous excess heat is produced in these experiments."

So there is something going on, but no ones really sure just what. The results vary, and one researcher suspects that different types of palladium are what is yielding different results. The words of the former skeptic who looked at it sort of describe the position to take:

"If you ask me, is this going to have any impact on our energy policy, it’s impossible to say, because we don't fundamentally understand the process yet. But to say, because we don't fundamentally understand the process and that's why we're not going to study it, is like saying, 'I'm too sick to go to the doctor,'" Duncan argued."