Nuclear Cold Fusion

Something happened to the articles at

opednews.com/articles/Nuclear-Cold-Fusian-by-Ludwik-Kowalski-090116-730.html

Please delete it (together with my two comments) and replace it with what follows. Thanks in advance.

Ludwik Kowalslki

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1) An interesting short article, “Allow More Government Research to Study Cold fusion,” at 

h t t p : / / citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/ideas/

/viewIdea.apexp?id=087800000004qPn&srPos=1&srKp=087

was posted by Jed Rothwell on 1/14/09. It generated a set of comments, including my own.  The topic deserves attention and discussion. Here is what I wrote:
   
2) “As a nuclear physicist (Ph.D. 1964), and teacher, I followed the field with great interest during the first three years after the discovery of unexplained excess heat was announced, 20 years ago. Then I accepted the prevailing view that the initial claim was not justified. Seven years ago, during a scientific conference, I found out that more than 100 highly qualified researchers continue studying so-called "cold fusion" effects. After reading their recent reports, and participating at several conferences, I came to a conclusion that the field, now known as CMNS--Condensed Matter Nuclear Science--is worth taking seriously.

The essence of the controversy (between CMNS scientists and those who discriminate against them) is the idea that a nuclear effect, caused by a chemical effect, is possible. Here is a short list of reported findings associated with this claim:

a) Excess heat, sometimes orders of magnitude larger than what can be attributed to known chemical reactions.

b) Excess heat correlated with production of 4He (generated at a rate close to 23 MeV per atom of produced helium).

c) Chemically-induced changes in isotopic composition of elements. Note that the term “chemically” is very broad; it covers all atomic and molecular processes, including diffusion of gasses through solids.

d) Production of new elements, either stable or radioactive, in amounts high above what can be attributed to omnipresent impurities.

e) Chemically-induced changes in the rate of radioactive decay.

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