Quote:

---

Originally posted by AnthonyT:

When I was much younger, some gentlemen put heavy water under electrolysis and got a result they called 'Cold Fusion.' Others repeated the experiments and asserted that there was no fusion occuring, and that the researchers were hoaxsters. However, something always bothered my unlearned mind about the incident. First, I didn't see how the researchers were benefitting from the hoax. Second, there were some reported phenomenon with the experiment that were never dealt with. They claimed cold fusion, no fusion was found, and they were thereafter ridiculed and ignored.

But it occurred to me that while they may have been mistaken in their conclusions about the experiment, there might have been something ELSE going on that they misinterpreted. Unfortunately, these Cold Fusion Experiments seemed to become a poison that every scientist was afraid to touch, and no one seemed to care much about what might have been going on, even if it wasn't cold fusion.

Recently, I became aware of another group of researchers, this group operating within a corporation called Blacklight.

Because they've received substantial investment and/or grants, they have every incentive to lie and cheat so that they can steal. However, I can't help but be tantalized by one of their early premises- Something else was going on with those Cold Fusion Experiments, and while it may not be Cold Fusion, it can still be useful.

Working from the basic premise that something WAS happening, they've explored ways to use chemistry to change the nature of hydrogen atoms. This seems preposterous, which adds allure because any startling new discovery of even the valid sort must necessarily seem preposterous at first. (If History is to be my guide.)

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Fremdfirma:

...One other fascinating item is the hydrogen-from-water machines, some of which *have actually worked* once or twice, but have never been reliable enough to validate, because there's just something missing or misunderstood which causes them to never work properly for any length of time or in any reliable fashion - test results can vary dramatically on tests even five minutes apart under identical conditions so there is an X-factor there we just haven't figured out yet.

Meyers was the closest, but his vehicle came apart due to the (unknown at the time) effects of hydrogen embrittlement, and he was assassinated shortly thereafter, in any case.

...Remember, I tend to eyeball things outside my competence from a criminal investigation viewpoint, and that spoke to me the same way an extraordinarily elaborate and detailed alibi would, you understand ?

And of course, some corporation has thrown down a patent to prevent further research along those lines, which looks even more like a deliberate roadblock.

It isn't the technical problems so much as the political ones which present the most danger to this kind of R&D because the energy companies and their Government collaborators/enablers will stop at nothing to prevent any effective research - the Geek farm has twice baited them with absolutely bullshit "research" into buying it out just to shut it down, which is a rather unethical but effective way to secure funding.

-Frem

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by AnthonyT:


I have to admit I'm not yet sold on the idea of using food products as fuel. I'd have to be sure peanut oil had no legitimate food uses and was a useless byproduct before I'd want to advocate burning it to run cars.

Anyhow, at 30 bucks per gallon, peanut oil isn't making me feel warm and fuzzy as a gasoline replacement.

--Anthony

---