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too good to be true???

post #1 of 11
Thread Starter 
amazing story. but is it too good to be true...?

Quote:
Fuel's paradise? Power source that turns physics on its head

· Scientist says device disproves quantum theory
· Opponents claim idea is result of wrong maths

Alok Jha, science correspondent
Friday November 4, 2005
The Guardian

It seems too good to be true: a new source of near-limitless power that costs virtually nothing, uses tiny amounts of water as its fuel and produces next to no waste. If that does not sound radical enough, how about this: the principle behind the source turns modern physics on its head.

Randell Mills, a Harvard University medic who also studied electrical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, claims to have built a prototype power source that generates up to 1,000 times more heat than conventional fuel. Independent scientists claim to have verified the experiments and Dr Mills says that his company, Blacklight Power, has tens of millions of dollars in investment lined up to bring the idea to market. And he claims to be just months away from unveiling his creation.

The problem is that according to the rules of quantum mechanics, the physics that governs the behaviour of atoms, the idea is theoretically impossible. "Physicists are quite conservative. It's not easy to convince them to change a theory that is accepted for 50 to 60 years. I don't think [Mills's] theory should be supported," said Jan Naudts, a theoretical physicist at the University of Antwerp.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/st...627424,00.html
post #2 of 11
Definitely true.
I hope Greenpeace do the planet a favour and invest all their money in it.
Renato
post #3 of 11
Thread Starter 
renato,
why do you say definitely true? do you have more info on this? this has the potential to really change the world for the better.
post #4 of 11
Sounds interesting and I hope it is true and that it is CLEAN. I just sent an email to my physicist friend who is involved in quantum physics and maybe he can clarify it for me.
post #5 of 11
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by wedge

Sounds interesting and I hope it is true and that it is CLEAN. I just sent an email to my physicist friend who is involved in quantum physics and maybe he can clarify it for me.

cool. please pass on the info to us.
post #6 of 11
Quote:
Originally Posted by liquid

renato,
why do you say definitely true? Â*do you have more info on this? Â*this has the potential to really change the world for the better.

Please pardon my sarcasm - the end result is that Greenpeace would be bankrupted.
If it really were true, the guy could send off some flashlights powered by the new energy source to all his critics, not to mention the patents office - end of story, no more doubts, no more arguments. Instead he seems to be hyping it for funds.
Renato
post #7 of 11
Not to sound too paranoid, but the energy/oil companies+other corporations will do their best to keep that away from the public, buy out the persons who discovered it for 8-12 figures. Kind of reminds me of the original Segway inventor when he told the public he would revolutionize transportation INCLUDING the COST aspect. After some review, my brother thought he had developed a clean engine. Now this is my paranoid side but after the public release of the theory behind the Segway, we both felt that it couldn't be what the inventor had talked about. The market was far too narrow ( I've only seen Police and one consumer with them), and the affordability put it in the luxury category for at least a good 5-10 years after it's release. I'll stop my rambling there. Cheers.

David
post #8 of 11
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Renato

Please pardon my sarcasm - the end result is that Greenpeace would be bankrupted. If it really were true, the guy could send off some flashlights powered by the new energy source to all his critics, not to mention the patents office - end of story, no more doubts, no more arguments. Instead he seems to be hyping it for funds...
Renato

ah i get it, mr. doubty mcpessimist. ;D but i agree that it does seem too good to be true.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vegas

Now this is my paranoid side but after the public release of the theory behind the Segway, we both felt that it couldn't be what the inventor had talked about. The market was far too narrow ( I've only seen Police and one consumer with them), and the affordability put it in the luxury category for at least a good 5-10 years after it's release...
David

yeah the segway was very disappointing.
post #9 of 11
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vegas

Not to sound too paranoid, but the energy/oil companies+other corporations will do their best to keep that away from the public, buy out the persons who discovered it for 8-12 figures. Kind of reminds me of the original Segway inventor when he told the public he would revolutionize transportation INCLUDING the COST aspect. After some review, my brother thought he had developed a clean engine. Now this is my paranoid side but after the public release of the theory behind the Segway, we both felt that it couldn't be what the inventor had talked about. The market was far too narrow ( I've only seen Police and one consumer with them), and the affordability put it in the luxury category for at least a good 5-10 years after it's release. I'll stop my rambling there. Cheers.

David

Sometimes I'm a shareholder in energy companies.

I have a sneaking suspicion that my fellow shareholders and I would form a lynch mob on any management and board of an energy company that went out of it's way to obtain and hide a new technology which would drive it's competitors out of business, while making us (the shareholders) fabulously rich and wealthy beyond our wildest dreams.

I do not really think you need be too paranoid about supression of new technologies of the type described.
Renato
post #10 of 11
One company would not be able to keep the technology secret. I would think that corporate espionage could easily take the theory out from the company. Something like this would lead to fierce competition, but not without millions upon millions in R&D from both sides, at which point any old tech would be severely limited in both application and profitability. This process would repeat itself many times over with other companies.
I have little doubt that something like this WILL be released(assuming it's true) but I think the main company which buys the theory will try their best to keep it within the company until an effective support system is developed, something which might take years. We shall see.
post #11 of 11
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vegas

One company would not be able to keep the technology secret. I would think that corporate espionage could Â*easily take the theory out from the company. Something like this would lead to fierce competition, but not without millions upon millions in R&D from both sides, at which point any old tech would be severely limited in both application and profitability. This process would repeat itself many times over with other companies.
I have little doubt that something like this WILL be released(assuming it's true) but I think the main company which buys the theory will try their best to keep it within the company until an effective Â*support system is developed, something which might take years. We shall see.

Why keep it secret? There's patent law - with it's limited period of enforced monopoly - which encourages innovators to hurry up and make their super fortunes before others can get in on the act.
There have been countless new break through technologies in the last 50 years. If everyone had behaved in the manner you suggest as typical, we'd still be living in an era akin to the 1950s.
Renato
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