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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (July 3, 1990)
The Battalion OPINION Tues The I Tuesday, July 3,1990 Opinion Page Editor Damon Arhos 845- Cold fusion research deserves support from skeptical public Cold fusion has been known since at least 1956. It is the case where two very light nuclei are squeezed together and a certain magnitude of mass energy is forced out or radiated. This is possible only when a particle called a negative muon mediates the reaction. In the process, this last particle not only does not lose any of its mass energy, but it acquires additional kinetic energy as it completes this cold fusion process. Both cold fusion at room temperature and hot fusion near 100,000,000 degrees Celsius are expected to generate more energy than they consume. This is against the first law of thermodynamics and conservation of energy, yet hot fusion is observed in the hydrogen bomb, while cold fusion is observed in physics laboratories. As a picture of a negative muon shows, after fusion, it will have higher kinetic energy and will travel in almost a straight line. Yet, the fact is that repeatability of observing a negative muon taking the same path in different events is low. This is particle physics. It is not like testing Newton’s apple to check the validity of the law of gravitation. It is possible that negative muons may be created via some unknown process in one cell, and not in the others. This Fuad Turanciol Reader’s Opinion These comments indicate that the existing knowledge of particle physics is not satisfactory. It has no relation to these actions or reactions as observed at the particle level. Also, for commercial production of cold fusion energy, negative muons 66 Most of all, a supportive public opinion must be promoted in favor of cold fusion because it is the only road which can lead to clean energy at minimum cost. The rest are not satisfactory. Controlled positive energy production is already observed.” Hence, it is possible to have cold fusion produce excess heat in some cells. Therefore, as Dr. Abraham Clearfield, associate dean in the Texas A&rM College of Science, says, it is unreasonable to expect uniform performance from all cells. Cold fusion is observable under controlled conditions. It amplifies input energy. But controlled hot fusion has never amplified input energy. According to the 1989 Congressional Hearings, close to $6 billion each year is invested in hot fusion and we are still under 100 percent efficiency. Another 100 years may be required for the first commercial positive energy generation. Yet, one year after the successful test of Utah cold fusion experiments, the Congress has never given one dollar, and the public is expecting miracles. This is not a fair expectation. The Fusion Technology Journal is the most respected scientific magazine on this subject. It has published at least 30 well- edited technical notes and almost every one of these notes claims that the physics of cold fusion is not understood. Not one discredits the cold fusion tests of Utah. individual event may seed the creation of other negative muons. These particles may carry 5.4 units kinetic energy. Also unexplained is the recent observation of charged particles with 5 units kinetic energy indicating internal creation of tfiese negative muons. Cold fusion works, and it can be very clean without any radiation hazards. The fuel is extracted from sea water. In summary, the physics of cold fusion must be known. The first law of thermodynamics is against cold fusion. Plus, the structures and operations of protons, electrons, neutrons, deuterons and negative muons are not known. The source of energy to squeeze out the radiate energy, the detailed mechanics of nuclei tunnelling and nuclei squeezing, and the relation of chemical energy to physics are all not known. Some may speculate that the Utah test results were due to chemical energy. must be produced at very large quantities and at minimum cost of input energy. Cold fusion in the laboratory is only the beginning. Proper designs for large scale power production are needed. Financial backing is most desperately needed for research and development. Most of all, a supportive public opinion must be promoted in favor of cold fusion because it is the only road which can lead to clean energy at minimum cost. The rest are not satisfactory. Controlled positive energy production is already observed. The rest of the nations in the world are subsidizing their projects. The results will be exposed at the International Conference on Emerging Nuclear Energy Systems in Monterey, Calif, June 16-21, 1991. The Congress must hear the points specified above and provide the grants to those who deserve these grants. Texas A&M is ready to contribute with all its capabilities. Fuad Turanciol is a former independent researcher at Fermilab, a nuclear science laboratory in Batavia, III. The Battalion (USPS 045 360) Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference Associated Collegiate Press The Battalion Editorial Board Monique Threadgill, Editor Melissa Naumann, Managing Editor Damon Arhos, Opinion Page Editor Holly Becka, City Editor Meg Reagan, Lisa Ann Robertson, News Editors Clay Rasmussen, Sports Editor Eric Roalson, Art Director Todd Stone, Lifestyles Editor Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-sup porting newspaper operated as a commu nity service to Texas A&M and Bryan- College Station. Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editorial board or the au thor, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Texas A&M administrators, faculty or the Board of Regents. The Battalion is published Tuesday through Friday during Texas A&M sum mer semesters, except for holiday and ex amination periods. Mail subscriptions are $20 per semes ter, $40 per school year and $50 per full year: 845-2611. Advertising rates fur nished on request: 845-2696. Our address: The Battalion, 230 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, Col lege Station, TX 77843-1 111. Newsroom: 845-3313. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. POSTMASTER. Send address changes to The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University, College Station TX 77843-41 11. FAX MAIL CALL I Fatburger apologizes for misunderstanding f j- EDITOR: We at Fatburger would like to apologize for any misunderstandings be cause of the accident that occurred on June 21. We think that Hans VVahlen may not have realized our concern. We did share Walden’s frantic reaction. When Walden ran into the restaurant and yelled “Call 91 1,” wedidsoas soon as we were able to free the telephone lines. Unfortunately, theacddeni occurred during the lunch rush and the phones were tied up. Our employee cleared all the lines as soon as she could so that she could make an outgoing call. ' W'e are sorry that we weren’t able to make the call as soon as we would have liked to. We wanted to help and did the best we could under the circum stances. Moe Mooti Fatburger management Congress can revoke trading status EDITOR: II Irwin fang would take the time to properly research his arguments,he would probably be a more persuasive writer. His “reply column” of June 22 indicated that he has incomplete knowledge of the terms of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment to the Trade Reform Act of 1973. Tang argued that the Chinese government no longer has an incentive to reform its current human rights policy, as President Bush has already ex tended MFN to them. This is not the case. Under the terms of the amend ment, the extension of MFN in this case is subject to congressional review ev ery 18 months. Congress has the power to revoke MFN if the Chinese do not improve their policies. It currently appears unlikely that Bush, a former ambassador to China, will change his attitude toward the PRC. Tang’s method of automatically crit icizing him is fruitless. A more appropriate action would be to ask a member of Congress not to vote to continue the MFN extension when the time comes. In closing, I would like to caution Tang to remember the words of Senator William Fulbright. Speaking about countries that interfere with the internal affairs of other nations, he said the “outsiders (such as the United States) are seldom wise enough, just enough or disinterested enough to advance the mor ality or welfare of a society not their own.” David B. White ’90 Legislature had not passed bill yet EDITOR: I am writing concerning Jon Beeler’s column printed in The Battalion on Thursday, June 21, 1990. Beeler is entitled to his opinion, so I will not dwell on how our beliefs differ. Instead, 1 would like to point out his inaccuracy in reporting the facts. Beeler emphasizes the point that he interned for Accuracy in Media recently in Washington, D.C. He then goes on to c ite an incorrect “rait.” And he feels pro-choice advocates are hypocritical! Actually, at the time of the column, a bill making abortion illegal had only passed the Louisiana House of Representatives, not the entire legislature as lie states. Although it was highly probable that the bill would gain approval by the senate, only recently did the bill pass the senate and is now awaiting ap proval or a veto by the governor of Louisiana. This columnist should not cite probabilities and rumors leading readers to believe they are facts. I read opinions by this columnist regularly and now 1 wonder what other incorrect statements 1 have been misled into believing. Lindy R. Harding ’91 A&M recycling program could work EDITOR: Recent articles in T he Battalion have stressed the recycling effort and questioned the University’s role in that effort. A&M does not have a central ized recycling program. I believe that A&M could easily form a system with out a ruling or proclamation making it mandatory. But it will be up to the many dedicated individuals in each department to make it work. If receptacles were set up outside of each of the major buildings (Sterling C. Evans Library, Academic, Blocker, etc.) each department could transport their recyclables to those containers, which would then be picked up by the University or a contractor and recycled. The contractor could be decided by open bidding based on price per pound offered and quality of service. Even with minimal voluntary effort, I believe the revenues would adequately cover administrative and material costs. The University could also set up a simple information project to get more departments involved, which would increase revenues. Not only could the University make a profit from the program, but it would greatly enhance A&M’s image as a world class university. David R. Baca Staff member, Sterling C. Evans Library Have an opinion? Express it! Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words in length. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for style and length, but will make every effort to maintain the author’s intent. There is no guarantee that letters submitted will be printed. Each letter must be signed and must include the classification, address awl telephone number of the writer. All letters may be brought to 216 Reed McDonald, or sent to Campus Mail Stop 1111. by Brett Bridgemai VMLCoFfe To CLASS /</os. Yes, it!s Time Eok this strip tb Ger A LUTLe 5€Rioug. So fur Your feeT ih the STiZRuftf $ slide AS FAR fORLJflRp as FbssiBLe. ABoKT/ok] /5 RBoLtf 5o\rt£otd£ o^T THens is MnkM6 A klLLlHG... RBoRDoN has NeVe#, SEE id PfkxdT Something So FKoFoun/D/ T^NTEUFCTliHLlJT' 5T/MUcfl77M6, FWD €u£FrTHG~ Cool Top Id AS of LRTE As MDtviDUPL. Rights. XT'S about Right VJRoHG. IF You ERn'T Sort THRT . 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