Friday, March 1, 2002
1. BUBBLE FUSION: A COLLECTIVE GROAN CAN BE HEARD.
A report out of Oak Ridge of d-d fusion events in collapsing bubbles formed
by cavitation in deuterated acetone, is scheduled for publication in the
March 8 issue of Science magazine. Taleyarkan et al. observe 2.5 MeV neutron
peaks, evidence of d-d fusion, correlated with sonoluminescence from collapsing
bubbles. Pretty exciting stuff huh? It might be, if the experiment had
not been repeated by two experienced nuclear physicists, D. Shapira and
M.J. Saltmarsh, using the same apparatus, except for superior neutron
detection equipment. They found no evidence for 2.5 MeV neutron emission
correlated with sonoluminescence. Any neutron emission was many orders
of magnitude too small to account for the tritium production reported
by the first group. Although distinguished physicists, fearing a repeat
of the cold fusion fiasco 13 years ago, advised against publication, the
editor has apparently chosen not only to publish the work, but to do so
with unusual fanfare, involving even the cover of Science. Perhaps Science
magazine covets the vast readership of Infinite Energy magazine.
2. NUCLEAR TESTING: NUCLEAR WEAPONS DESIGN RESUMES.
Since 1992,
the policy has been to maintain existing weapons under a Science-
Based Stockpile Stewardship Program. But the Bush Administration
has announced plans to resume design work on new warheads. This
is expected to undermine nuclear non-proliferation, and lead to a
resumption of testing. Speaking of testing, last week WN put the
nuclear test range 100 miles from the Yucca Mountain repository.
Several readers corrected our geography. Actually, the Nevada
Test Site lies adjacent to Yucca Mountain. The nearest site,
Buggy, is only 12 miles from Yucca, plenty far enough to rule out
seismic problems, but close enough to arouse public concern.
3. DOOMSDAY CLOCK: IT'S NOW TWO MINUTES CLOSER TO MIDNIGHT.
The
symbolic clock was reset to 11:53, the closest to midnight since
1998, after both India and Pakistan tested nuclear weapons
(WN 12 Jun 98).
Scientists on the panel that controls the hands said
the 9/11 terrorist attacks were not the major factor in setting
the clock closer to midnight. Rather, it was the lack of
progress toward nuclear disarmament. If the U.S. actually
resumes nuclear testing, the clock will presumably be set much
closer.
4. FALLOUT: "EVERYONE HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO FALLOUT FROM TESTING."
So what? A wildly irresponsible study from the Center of Disease
Control estimates that fallout from testing will result in 11,000
cancer deaths. Would you believe zero? Atmospheric testing was
dumb, and any testing now is dumber. But the CDC study assumes a
linear, no-threshold model, which is clearly wrong. There is no
evidence that low levels cause cancer and some evidence that low
radiation levels may stimulate the body's protective mechanisms.
|
