Transcript Pathological Science - North Texas Skeptics

The North Texas Skeptics
Pathological Science
http://www.ntskeptics.org
Pathological Science
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What is pathological science?
Irving Langmuir and pathological science
Cold fusion
The hafnium bomb
Sonofusion
The studies of Joseph B. Rhine
Characteristics of pathological science
Recent history of pathological science
What is Pathological Science?
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Pathological Science is science done—the rules are violated.
The scientist takes ownership of a theory.
Feeble or no attempts are made to refute the theory.
Contrary evidence is ignored.
Problems with the theory are explained away ad hoc.
Detractors are defamed or ridiculed.
The scientific consensus is viewed as a conspiracy of orthodoxy.
The theory becomes a field of cult science.
Irving Langmuir
 General Electric researcher, Nobel in Chemistry
 A talk in 1953 related Langmuir’s experiences with Pathological
Science.
 The complete story was published in Physics Today, October 1989.
 Langmuir’s talk involved the following:
 The Davis-Barnes effect
 The incredible story of N-rays
 The studies of Joseph B. Rhine
 The Millikan oil drop experiment
 Characteristics of pathological science
 Recent history of pathological science
The Davis-Barnes Experiment
+ N
N +
Alpha Particle:
Charge is +2.
590 Volts (typical)
Undeflected
Particles
Polonium Alpha
Particle Source
Magnetic
Field
Deflected
Particles
Alpha Particles Go 8000
to 9000 Miles Per Second.
Alpha particles coming from the left are deflected down
into the detector at Z. If they combine with electrons in
the region of the tube labeled R, then they will not be
deflected to Z.
The Davis-Barnes Story
Langmuir was invited to observe the effect at Columbia University.
Adjustment by means of crude rheostat
Claims made for very fine accuracy
Measurement involved counting flashes at the edge of visibility.
Davis was quick to explain away questions about the method.
Experimental technique was sloppy—time interval for counting was
uncontrolled.
 Counts claimed by experimenters could not be replicated by
Langmuir and C. W. Hewlett—Barnes explained the discrepancy was
due to a contaminated view screen.
 Langmuir debunked the results by making the test blinded.
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Davis-Barnes (Continued)
 Barnes excused the result as a gassy tube—the same tube that had
been producing good results.
 Researchers would not accept Langmuir’s evidence and presented a
paper before the NAS.
 Barnes excused inconsistent results from “counting bright flashes.”
 Davis and Barnes later reported they were not able to reproduce
their original data.
 In their retraction they never mentioned a gassy tube.
Davis-Barnes Data Plot
The Rydberg Constant
René Blondlot and N-Rays
 René Blondlot, French Academy of Sciences, University
of Nancy
 Blondlot researched x-rays and went on to discover Nrays.
 N-rays have peculiar penetrating properties and are
viewed in the dark on a calcium sulfide screen.
 N-rays penetrate aluminum but not iron, and Blondlot
used a large aluminum prism to do N-ray refraction.
See the diagram.
 Amazing precision was claimed for N-ray spectroscopy.
 Measurement required great skill.
N-Rays
Iron Tube
Nernst
Filament
Aluminum
Prism
N-Rays
Slit
Calcium
Sulfide
Screen
Robert Wood and N-Rays
 Robert W. Wood, physicist at Johns Hopkins University,
researcher in infra-red and ultra-violet photography.
 Wood went to France to observe the science of N-Rays.
 In the dark Wood secretly removed the aluminum prism
and put it in his pocket.
 Blondlot continued to observe amazing precision.
 Wood published his findings in Nature, and N-rays died
a quick death.
 Blondlot’s reputation was shattered.
Mitogenetic Rays
The Allison Effect
Cold Fusion
 Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann (University of Utah)
 Announced 23 March 1989
 Production of available energy from nuclear fusion without requiring
high temperature, high pressure
 John Bokris, TAMU
 Now a field of cult science
Fusion Basics
In the real world atomic nuclei are positively charged
and repel each other very strongly. Great force is
required to bring them into close proximity to obtain
fusion.
This is achieved by means of high temperatures and
extreme pressures. Quantum tunneling can enable
fusion at lower temperatures and pressures.
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Tokamak Fusion
The UT Austin
Center for Plasma
Fusion embarked
on this program to
build a Tokamak in
1970. There was
no plan to produce
power from the
experiment.
Artist Tony Bell
produced this
drawing from
design plans.
Pathological Science Characteristics
 The maximum effect that is observed is produced by a causative
agent of barely detectable intensity, and the magnitude of the
effect is substantially independent of the intensity of the cause.
Pathological Science Characteristics
 The effect is of a magnitude that remains close to the limit of
detectability, or many measurements are necessary bacause of the
very low statistical significance of the results.
Pathological Science Characteristics
 There are claims of great accuracy.
Pathological Science Characteristics
 Fantastic theories contrary to experience are suggested.
Pathological Science Characteristics
 Criticisms are met by ad hoc excuses thought up on the spur of the
moment.
Pathological Science Characteristics
 The ratio of supporters to critics rises up to somewhere near 50%
and then falls gradually to oblivion.