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TIME: Almanac 1990
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1990 Time Magazine Compact Almanac, The (1991)(Time).iso
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052989
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1990-09-22
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LETTERS, Page 17FUSION OR ILLUSION?
Whether Utah's Stanley Pons and Britain's Martin Fleischmann
achieved cold fusion in a jar or merely a storm in a teacup
(SCIENCE, May 8), they abdicated their higher calling as scientists
in favor of "media science," a pseudoscientific forum.
Unfortunately, their proponents and opponents have decided to
choose the same regrettable course.
Julian W. Proctor
Wexford, Pa.
One can understand why an announcement by two unknown
scientists that they had achieved fusion would generate excitement.
But why the expressions of outrage? Here are some reactions from
modern scientists:
How can chemists presume to know anything about atoms?
How could anyone from Utah possibly discover anything?
How dare these people compete for my funding?
I was recently at an international scientific conference on
fusion, and these views (phrased somewhat differently) were
prominent.
Theodore Rockwell
Chevy Chase, Md.
We know we can't get something from nothing, but human longing
resurfaces. The search for unlimited power through fusion is a
revival of the perennial dream of mastering the superhuman.
Eugen Roder
Leutkirch, West Germany
How can such a simple experiment produce something not
previously discovered? I am skeptical of the claims.
Toby Griffin
Erlanger, Ky.
In response to your report, I'd say that there's inclusion of
delusion with a profusion of confusion!
Joseph M. Kosanovic
Pittsburgh