I think this is the beginnings of an economy based on perpetual growth and fossil fuel energy running headlong into geological energy constraints. Basically I see an undulatory downward path for the rest of my life. From here out, I think any rallies in our economic condition are going to be met with spiking commodity prices that knock us right back down.
Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 10:16 am Post subject: "Cold Fusion" Demonstration
Arata-Zhang LENR Demonstration
By Steven B. Krivit
New Energy Times
May 22, 2008
OSAKA, JAPAN -- Against a monumental backdrop of bad publicity for cold fusion since 1989, researchers in Japan on May 22 demonstrated the production of excess heat and helium-4, the results of an historic low-energy nuclear reaction experiment.
The mastermind behind the demonstration is Yoshiaki Arata, a highly respected physicist in Japan who has been the recipent of Japan's highest award, the Emperor's Prize, and is the first person to have performed thermonuclear fusion research in Japan.
A lecture by Arata preceded the demonstration before a live audience in Arata Hall (named in his honor) at the Joint and Welding Research Institute at Osaka University. The demonstration took place in the Osaka University Advanced Science Innovation Center with the help of Arata’s associate, Yue Chang Zhang.
Professor Akito Takahashi of Osaka University was an eyewitness to the demonstration.
"Arata and Zhang demonstrated very successfully the generation of continuous excess energy (heat) from ZrO2-nano-Pd sample powders under D2 gas charging and generation of helium-4," Takahashi wrote. "The demonstrated live data looked just like data they reported in their published papers (J. High Temp. Soc. Jpn, Feb. and March issues, 2008). This demonstration showed that the method is highly reproducible."
Takahashi wrote that 60 people from universities and companies in Japan and a few people from other countries attended, as well as representatives from six major newspapers (Asahi, Nikkei, Mainichi, NHK, et al.) and two television stations.
In an earlier conversation with New Energy Times, Arata offered his perspective on "cold fusion" research, which is now known more properly as low-energy nuclear reaction research.
"Some people say we have reached the end of science, that there are no more great discoveries that remain. In my view, nature always has more secrets to reveal," Arata wrote. "I always stay on guard not to be too possessed by my own current knowledge. History has shown us repeatedly, for example, the foolishness of denying 'heliocentricism,' which resulted from individuals adhering too strongly to their own knowledge or to what was common sense in the past."
New Energy Times will have a more complete report in the next issue on July 10.
Joined: Oct 24, 2005 Posts: 831 Location: North of Id, west of Oz, and infront of the damned rabbit
Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 10:29 am Post subject: Re: "Cold Fusion" Demonstration
So is the energy inputs less than the energy output? If so would this be scalable? I'm sure there are still secrets in nature but to believe our reach is unlimited is just as foolish. _________________ Was a long and dark December
When the banks became cathedrals
And the fog
Became God
Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 11:01 am Post subject: Re: "Cold Fusion" Demonstration
Quote:
Takahashi wrote that 60 people from universities and companies in Japan and a few people from other countries attended, as well as representatives from six major newspapers (Asahi, Nikkei, Mainichi, NHK, et al.) and two television stations.
Cold Fusion! We're saved!
But no Western Press? Only a "few people from other countries"?
huh?
When do I get my . . .
flying Delorean with Mr Fusion built in? _________________ Massive Human Dieoff must occur as a result of Peak Oil. Many more than half will die. It will occur everywhere, including where you live. If you fail to recognize this, then your odds of living move toward the "going to die" group.
Joined: May 26, 2004 Posts: 1195 Location: Zoorope
Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 11:13 am Post subject: Re: "Cold Fusion" Demonstration
Funny.
No news in english press. All the "western press" not english speaking is extensively covering the news from Japan. The scientist is highly respected.
Really curious. _________________ **no english mothertongue**
--------
Objects in the rear view mirror
are closer than they appear.
Joined: Mar 28, 2005 Posts: 399 Location: Northern California, USA
Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 11:40 am Post subject: Re: "Cold Fusion" Demonstration
My guess is that you won't hear about this again. There will be no more announcements. Same thing has happened perhaps several hundred times over the last 20 years. Its like reading the same mystery novel over and over again except the last half of the book has been removed. I'm gotten tired over the years of reading the beginning over and over again.
On a side note, Japan is one of the biggest oil importers in the world and has zero domestic energy reserves. The U.S on the other hand has tons of coal and is the third biggest oil producer. IMHO, a few years after peak, after the export-land model really starts to kick in -- Japan would experience the most precipitous and steep fall from wealth to poverty imaginable. If there was some "political" reason that this technology never gets anywhere this might lead to a break with past policy.
Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 11:47 am Post subject: Re: "Cold Fusion" Demonstration
Its kind of like the "Farnsworth Fusor" - Sure observable fusion is/might be happening but not the sustainable sort of reaction. All of these reactions need to be explored however, who knows. I know that Brussard guy is all for the electrostatic confinement model now (Farnsworth Fusor). People have been dinking with those for almost 50 years with few real improvements. Still nothing that can produce more power than it takes to keep the reaction going.
There is still a long way to go. I wish them luck.
-G _________________ I Have and will continue to vote against ANY politician who supports the various bailouts. Curse you for selling out our future for status quo now!
Joined: Apr 09, 2007 Posts: 6289 Location: Alaska (its much bigger than Texas).
Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 11:52 am Post subject: Re: "Cold Fusion" Demonstration
abelardlindsay wrote:
On a side note, Japan is one of the biggest oil importers in the world and has zero domestic energy reserves.
Japan has extensive geothermal energy resources and large methane hydrate resources on the shelf. Japan is one of the leading nations doing research on methane hydrates.
Joined: Feb 27, 2008 Posts: 57 Location: Washington State (US)
Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 12:30 pm Post subject: Re: "Cold Fusion" Demonstration
I'm not a chemist but one would need to look at the energy inputs required to make "Zr02-nano-PD" and D2 gas. A little googling pops up this for zirconium dioxide production:
Quote:
The kinetics of reduction of zircon by carbon have been investigated in the temperature range 1400–1650 °C. Volatilization of SiO permits production of zirconia [Zr02] of about 96% purity direct from zircon with 100% removal of the silicon content being achieved in less than 2 h at 1650 °C.Abstract.
I fire a wood fired pottery kiln and to reach temperatures near 1300 C, I burn a cord of wood per day during the firings. Lab efficiencies would be better, but 1400 - 1650 is hot as hell and takes a lot of energy to achieve and sustain. So when they say "extra heat" -- do they mean extra heat taking into consideration what it takes to make the inputs?
As for Deuterium and "nano-pd", I didn't take the googling that far, but I suspect either of these is also energy intensive.
Joined: Feb 23, 2005 Posts: 511 Location: Winnipeg
Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 2:46 pm Post subject: Re: "Cold Fusion" Demonstration
Cashmere wrote:
Quote:
Takahashi wrote that 60 people from universities and companies in Japan and a few people from other countries attended, as well as representatives from six major newspapers (Asahi, Nikkei, Mainichi, NHK, et al.) and two television stations.
Cold Fusion! We're saved!
But no Western Press? Only a "few people from other countries"?
huh?
When do I get my . . .
flying Delorean with Mr Fusion built in?
Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 6:11 pm Post subject: Re: "Cold Fusion" Demonstration
Quote:
On a side note, Japan is one of the biggest oil importers in the world and has zero domestic energy reserves. The U.S on the other hand has tons of coal and is the third biggest oil producer. IMHO, a few years after peak, after the export-land model really starts to kick in -- Japan would experience the most precipitous and steep fall from wealth to poverty imaginable. If there was some "political" reason that this technology never gets anywhere this might lead to a break with past policy.
Japan has lots of coal, and has other mines (I live not that far away from what was the most efficiant zinc mine in the world and the biggest one in Asia). But mining here is expensive as opposed to elsewhere. Soo expensive that they have closed most of it down. And in that Zinc mine instead they put a massive physics experiment as the deep caverns are a stable environment.
However that is switching around now. They are reopening coal mines now that the price of coal is realistic for domestic Japanese production and the coal mining areas are experiencing a boom again. A quote in the paper from yesterday from the Mayor of one such town was "no one in this area ever thought coal would make a comeback (compared to oil as an energy source), but now we are delighted".
I am in the process of deciding if I should stay in Japan long term, or leave in two years time. If I stay I will buy land longer term. I live in the countryside, am surrounded by agriculture, get all my vegetebles from a local organic farm, do all my day to day commuting by bike, and havn`t locked my front door in 4 years when I leave my apartment as there is no need to.
From my perspective .... with the end of cheap oil, Japan doesn`t seem such a bad place to be.
Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 7:58 pm Post subject: Re: "Cold Fusion" Demonstration
Mudpuppy wrote:
(...)I am in the process of deciding if I should stay in Japan long term, or leave in two years time. If I stay I will buy land longer term. I live in the countryside, am surrounded by agriculture, get all my vegetebles from a local organic farm, do all my day to day commuting by bike, and havn`t locked my front door in 4 years when I leave my apartment as there is no need to.
From my perspective .... with the end of cheap oil, Japan doesn`t seem such a bad place to be.
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