Ask the Scholar
Page 8 of 81
I can add historical knowledge about this page.
Page image
OCR
tion of numerous scientists and most journalists. (Mr.
recting the problem caused by some in government and the aca-
President, this very unfortunate matter has now been referred
demic establishment. Unfortunately, the negative reports by key
to the Inspector General's Office at two Federal agencies.)
hot fusion laboratories to ERAB prevented diversion of govern-
A great irony: Each of these negative results were themselves
ment funding from the failed hot fusion program to the promis-
e product of the kind of low quality work of which
ing field of cold fusion. The patent-crushing ERAB report also
Fleischmann and Pons were accused. The difference was that
became a severe deterrent to private investment in the new
the reports said what the hot fusion community wanted to hear.
energy field.
This was the legacy of the 1989 ERAB report, but that legacy
We return to George Gamow's musings of 1966. Gamow
must now be reversed-and it will be, however long that takes.
thought that the next major physics revolution would be in
One method of ending the charade would be for the President
understanding the very existence of elementary particles. He
of the United States to issue an executive order to the
wrote, "There is hardly any doubt that when such a break-
Secretary of Energy to conduct a thorough, unbiased investi-
through is achieved, it will involve concepts that will be as dif-
gation of the entire cold fusion, low-energy nuclear reactions
ferent from those of today as today's concepts are different from
question and to explore how the DOE came to play such a
those of classical physics." He was both wrong and right. He
negative, obstructionist role. DOE laboratories should be com-
could not have suspected that the next physics revolution
pelled to work under the direction of those who have achieved
would begin not with high energy particle physics but with fun-
significant positive results, such that there can be no doubt in
damental electrochemistry- and that it would end with the
anyone's mind about these phenomena.
birth of what might be called "modern alchemy." The revolu-
Almost two years after they were concocted, Professor
tion will be the end of the world that we have known, this time
Ronald Parker of MIT's Plasma Fusion Center publicly stated
for the better.
that the MIT PFC cold fusion calorimetry data were "worthless"
(June 7, 1991). In the same period (August 30, 1991) after his
Snatching Victory from Defeat
data had been challenged, Parker stated that "MIT scientists
R
ecent events: Senator John McCain, running in the New
stand by their conclusions." Which is it? The full story is given
Hampshire primary for the Republican presidential nom-
in detail in a "Special Report: MIT and Cold Fusion" in the 10th
ination, agreed to be briefed on cold fusion. He kept his
Anniversary issue of Infinite Energy, which The White House
word. Within a week of his promise, he sent a top aide to our
has been provided. You will find the names of former Federal
offices at the Bow Technologies Center. He received briefing
officials in this document: CIA Director John Deutch and Air
materials that were to be handed to the Senator. Thus, Senator
Force Secretary Sheila Widnall.
McCain became the very first major party presidential candi-
Fleischmann and Pons have been vindicated-if not by the
date in history to receive a high-level briefing about cold fusion.
media and by the establishment, certainly by mountains of high
This briefing occurred before he won the February 1 New
uality published results. The literature on the Fleischmann-
Hampshire Republican primary by a large margin over
ons effect is now voluminous. These are not fantasies. This is
Governor Bush of Texas and others.
solid work, the kind of pioneering, exhaustive experimentation
I later sought to ask Vice President Al Gore, while he was
that could have been done at places such as MIT, Caltech, and
campaigning in Concord, New Hampshire for the Democratic
Harwell, but wasn't. We must now go beyond this sorry past.
Presidential nomination, whether he too would agree to a cold
The production of excess heat in the range of hundreds of
fusion briefing. On January 13, I attended a Gore question-and-
megajoules per mole of metal has been confirmed, as well as the
answer meeting at Temple Beth Jacob in Concord, but was
production of helium, tritium, and other elements. Power den-
unable to ask him the question-the Vice President was very
sities of kilowatts per cubic centimeter of electrode have been
long in responding to so many of the other questions that time
achieved by some researchers. The field of Low-Energy Nuclear
simply ran out. This was the same venue in which eight years
Reactions has been established, if not yet widely recognized.
earlier, almost to the day, I had asked you about cold fusion
Low-energy neutrons or weak gamma radiation are seen in
when you were a candidate, Mr. President! You seemed to know
some experiments, but most produce excess heat with no radi-
something about it, because you said that some Arkansas scien-
ation or radioactive by-products. Rapid remediation of radioac-
tists had been "stonewalled" on cold fusion by the DOE. In all
tive materials has been demonstrated. What a fantastic oppor-
probability they were.
tunity for universities such as MIT and private industry to
As has been reported in Infinite Energy, it is our understand-
become involved in one of the most exciting scientific and tech-
ing that in the early 1990s Vice President Gore shied away from
nological revolutions of all time. No massive Federal expendi-
a cold fusion briefing by qualified scientists, after being urged
tures are required. This is a process that private industry can
to do so by a colleague at Apple Computer Corporation. The
run with, as long as it is unhampered by bureaucratic interfer-
Vice President then reportedly stated that the topic was "too
ence.
controversial, too complex-give it to the science advisor." With
Certainly the replication and commercial application of the
your encouragement, we hope that the Vice President will now
Fleischmann-Pons effect and similar effects has been inhibited
be more open to discussions.
by a lack of understanding of the exact nature of the reactions,
For the record, the question that was handed to Mr. Gore's
which are not those known to plasma physicists. There is a
representative on January 13, 2000:
severe and widespread materials and theory problem related to
materials that produce the effects. Criteria are available to test
Question for Al Gore from Dr. Eugene Mallove, Bow, NH
materials for potential activity, but knowledge of how to pro-
Mr. Vice President:
uce such material at will is not yet available.
I'm Dr. Eugene Mallove, a member of this Temple and editor
Sad to say, solving the materials problem may be beyond the
of the scientific journal Infinite Energy magazine. I would like to
financial resources of the scattered researchers who have
ask you two critical questions about energy and the environ-
worked to validate the Fleischmann and Pons effect, but it is
ment, because I know those topics are dear to you-it may even
heartening that private corporations are taking the lead in cor-
help you win over Bradley because of the boondoggle going on
5
Page data
- Page
- 8
- Source index
- 0
- Type
- photo
- Media ID
- 29ae04ebc0a42767
- Size
- unknown
Document data
- ID
- 26413421
- Core
- doc
- Type
- document
DTO data
{
"id": "26413421",
"sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/26413421",
"contentType": "document",
"title": "Visions of the Future from Leading Thinkers [Binder] [2]",
"citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/26413421",
"collections": [
"Records of the Domestic Policy Council (Clinton Administration)",
"Bruce Reed's General Files"
],
"iiifBase": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/21/4134/26413421/content/presidential-libraries/clinton/foia/2011-0299-S-General/2011-0299-S-General-JPG/Box_155/42-t-7367462-20110299S-155-011-2015/42_t_7367462_20110299S_155_011_2015_Page_001.JPG",
"thumbnailUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/21/4134/26413421/content/presidential-libraries/clinton/foia/2011-0299-S-General/2011-0299-S-General-JPG/Box_155/42-t-7367462-20110299S-155-011-2015/42_t_7367462_20110299S_155_011_2015_Page_001.JPG",
"largeImageUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/21/4134/26413421/content/presidential-libraries/clinton/foia/2011-0299-S-General/2011-0299-S-General-JPG/Box_155/42-t-7367462-20110299S-155-011-2015/42_t_7367462_20110299S_155_011_2015_Page_001.JPG",
"imageCount": 81,
"hasImages": true,
"source": "import",
"hasTranscription": false
}
Context sent to Scholar
Document identity
{
"localId": "26413421",
"label": "Visions of the Future from Leading Thinkers [Binder] [2]",
"core": "doc",
"dtoType": "document",
"citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/26413421"
}
Document source metadata
{
"id": "26413421",
"sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/26413421",
"contentType": "document",
"title": "Visions of the Future from Leading Thinkers [Binder] [2]",
"citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/26413421",
"collections": [
"Records of the Domestic Policy Council (Clinton Administration)",
"Bruce Reed's General Files"
],
"iiifBase": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/21/4134/26413421/content/presidential-libraries/clinton/foia/2011-0299-S-General/2011-0299-S-General-JPG/Box_155/42-t-7367462-20110299S-155-011-2015/42_t_7367462_20110299S_155_011_2015_Page_001.JPG",
"thumbnailUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/21/4134/26413421/content/presidential-libraries/clinton/foia/2011-0299-S-General/2011-0299-S-General-JPG/Box_155/42-t-7367462-20110299S-155-011-2015/42_t_7367462_20110299S_155_011_2015_Page_001.JPG",
"largeImageUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/21/4134/26413421/content/presidential-libraries/clinton/foia/2011-0299-S-General/2011-0299-S-General-JPG/Box_155/42-t-7367462-20110299S-155-011-2015/42_t_7367462_20110299S_155_011_2015_Page_001.JPG",
"imageCount": 81,
"hasImages": true,
"source": "import",
"hasTranscription": false
}
Document source extras
{
"url": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/26413421",
"naId": 26413421,
"levelOfDescription": "fileUnit",
"otherTitles": [
"42-t-7367462-20110299S-155-011-2015"
],
"recordType": "description",
"ocrSource": "nara-archive"
}
Page context
{
"seq": 8,
"pageIndex": 0,
"type": "photo",
"url": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/21/4134/26413421/content/presidential-libraries/clinton/foia/2011-0299-S-General/2011-0299-S-General-JPG/Box_155/42-t-7367462-20110299S-155-011-2015/42_t_7367462_20110299S_155_011_2015_Page_008.JPG",
"mediaId": "29ae04ebc0a42767",
"ocrText": "tion of numerous scientists and most journalists. (Mr.\nrecting the problem caused by some in government and the aca-\nPresident, this very unfortunate matter has now been referred\ndemic establishment. Unfortunately, the negative reports by key\nto the Inspector General's Office at two Federal agencies.)\nhot fusion laboratories to ERAB prevented diversion of govern-\nA great irony: Each of these negative results were themselves\nment funding from the failed hot fusion program to the promis-\ne product of the kind of low quality work of which\ning field of cold fusion. The patent-crushing ERAB report also\nFleischmann and Pons were accused. The difference was that\nbecame a severe deterrent to private investment in the new\nthe reports said what the hot fusion community wanted to hear.\nenergy field.\nThis was the legacy of the 1989 ERAB report, but that legacy\nWe return to George Gamow's musings of 1966. Gamow\nmust now be reversed-and it will be, however long that takes.\nthought that the next major physics revolution would be in\nOne method of ending the charade would be for the President\nunderstanding the very existence of elementary particles. He\nof the United States to issue an executive order to the\nwrote, \"There is hardly any doubt that when such a break-\nSecretary of Energy to conduct a thorough, unbiased investi-\nthrough is achieved, it will involve concepts that will be as dif-\ngation of the entire cold fusion, low-energy nuclear reactions\nferent from those of today as today's concepts are different from\nquestion and to explore how the DOE came to play such a\nthose of classical physics.\" He was both wrong and right. He\nnegative, obstructionist role. DOE laboratories should be com-\ncould not have suspected that the next physics revolution\npelled to work under the direction of those who have achieved\nwould begin not with high energy particle physics but with fun-\nsignificant positive results, such that there can be no doubt in\ndamental electrochemistry- and that it would end with the\nanyone's mind about these phenomena.\nbirth of what might be called \"modern alchemy.\" The revolu-\nAlmost two years after they were concocted, Professor\ntion will be the end of the world that we have known, this time\nRonald Parker of MIT's Plasma Fusion Center publicly stated\nfor the better.\nthat the MIT PFC cold fusion calorimetry data were \"worthless\"\n(June 7, 1991). In the same period (August 30, 1991) after his\nSnatching Victory from Defeat\ndata had been challenged, Parker stated that \"MIT scientists\nR\necent events: Senator John McCain, running in the New\nstand by their conclusions.\" Which is it? The full story is given\nHampshire primary for the Republican presidential nom-\nin detail in a \"Special Report: MIT and Cold Fusion\" in the 10th\nination, agreed to be briefed on cold fusion. He kept his\nAnniversary issue of Infinite Energy, which The White House\nword. Within a week of his promise, he sent a top aide to our\nhas been provided. You will find the names of former Federal\noffices at the Bow Technologies Center. He received briefing\nofficials in this document: CIA Director John Deutch and Air\nmaterials that were to be handed to the Senator. Thus, Senator\nForce Secretary Sheila Widnall.\nMcCain became the very first major party presidential candi-\nFleischmann and Pons have been vindicated-if not by the\ndate in history to receive a high-level briefing about cold fusion.\nmedia and by the establishment, certainly by mountains of high\nThis briefing occurred before he won the February 1 New\nuality published results. The literature on the Fleischmann-\nHampshire Republican primary by a large margin over\nons effect is now voluminous. These are not fantasies. This is\nGovernor Bush of Texas and others.\nsolid work, the kind of pioneering, exhaustive experimentation\nI later sought to ask Vice President Al Gore, while he was\nthat could have been done at places such as MIT, Caltech, and\ncampaigning in Concord, New Hampshire for the Democratic\nHarwell, but wasn't. We must now go beyond this sorry past.\nPresidential nomination, whether he too would agree to a cold\nThe production of excess heat in the range of hundreds of\nfusion briefing. On January 13, I attended a Gore question-and-\nmegajoules per mole of metal has been confirmed, as well as the\nanswer meeting at Temple Beth Jacob in Concord, but was\nproduction of helium, tritium, and other elements. Power den-\nunable to ask him the question-the Vice President was very\nsities of kilowatts per cubic centimeter of electrode have been\nlong in responding to so many of the other questions that time\nachieved by some researchers. The field of Low-Energy Nuclear\nsimply ran out. This was the same venue in which eight years\nReactions has been established, if not yet widely recognized.\nearlier, almost to the day, I had asked you about cold fusion\nLow-energy neutrons or weak gamma radiation are seen in\nwhen you were a candidate, Mr. President! You seemed to know\nsome experiments, but most produce excess heat with no radi-\nsomething about it, because you said that some Arkansas scien-\nation or radioactive by-products. Rapid remediation of radioac-\ntists had been \"stonewalled\" on cold fusion by the DOE. In all\ntive materials has been demonstrated. What a fantastic oppor-\nprobability they were.\ntunity for universities such as MIT and private industry to\nAs has been reported in Infinite Energy, it is our understand-\nbecome involved in one of the most exciting scientific and tech-\ning that in the early 1990s Vice President Gore shied away from\nnological revolutions of all time. No massive Federal expendi-\na cold fusion briefing by qualified scientists, after being urged\ntures are required. This is a process that private industry can\nto do so by a colleague at Apple Computer Corporation. The\nrun with, as long as it is unhampered by bureaucratic interfer-\nVice President then reportedly stated that the topic was \"too\nence.\ncontroversial, too complex-give it to the science advisor.\" With\nCertainly the replication and commercial application of the\nyour encouragement, we hope that the Vice President will now\nFleischmann-Pons effect and similar effects has been inhibited\nbe more open to discussions.\nby a lack of understanding of the exact nature of the reactions,\nFor the record, the question that was handed to Mr. Gore's\nwhich are not those known to plasma physicists. There is a\nrepresentative on January 13, 2000:\nsevere and widespread materials and theory problem related to\nmaterials that produce the effects. Criteria are available to test\nQuestion for Al Gore from Dr. Eugene Mallove, Bow, NH\nmaterials for potential activity, but knowledge of how to pro-\nMr. Vice President:\nuce such material at will is not yet available.\nI'm Dr. Eugene Mallove, a member of this Temple and editor\nSad to say, solving the materials problem may be beyond the\nof the scientific journal Infinite Energy magazine. I would like to\nfinancial resources of the scattered researchers who have\nask you two critical questions about energy and the environ-\nworked to validate the Fleischmann and Pons effect, but it is\nment, because I know those topics are dear to you-it may even\nheartening that private corporations are taking the lead in cor-\nhelp you win over Bradley because of the boondoggle going on\n5"
}