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published by the CBS News
When a pair of scientists first introduced cold nuclear fusion in 1989 as a source of almost limitless energy, the scientific community quickly discredited the experiments. In some venues, these experiments are case studies in faulty scientific investigation. But now a respected scientist at SRI International is doing extensive research on the same process -- with promising results. This 12-minute investigative report by CBS 60 Minutes explores the renewed interest in cold fusion and its implications for society.

This resource is available for free online viewing. A four-page text synopsis is also provided.  It could be especially useful as a springboard for a lesson on the importance of objectivity in scientific experimentation.

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Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education Foundations
- Research Design & Methodology
= Validity
Modern Physics
- Nuclear Physics
Other Sciences
- Chemistry
- High School
- Middle School
- Lower Undergraduate
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Access Rights:
Limited free access
Available for free online viewing. May not be downloaded or reproduced without express permission.
Restriction:
© 2009 CBS News Online
Keywords:
experimental design, experimental methods, fusion, fusion experiments, junk science, nuclear fusion, research design
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created October 21, 2010 by Caroline Hall
Record Updated:
July 2, 2014 by Bruce Mason
Last Update
when Cataloged:
April 19, 2009
Other Collections:

AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008 Version)

1. The Nature of Science

1C. The Scientific Enterprise
  • 6-8: 1C/M7. Accurate record-keeping, openness, and replication are essential for maintaining an investigator's credibility with other scientists and society.
  • 9-12: 1C/H7. The strongly held traditions of science, including its commitment to peer review and publication, serve to keep the vast majority of scientists well within the bounds of ethical professional behavior. Deliberate deceit is rare and likely to be exposed sooner or later by the scientific enterprise itself. When violations of these scientific ethical traditions are discovered, they are strongly condemned by the scientific community, and the violators then have difficulty regaining the respect of other scientists.

12. Habits of Mind

12E. Critical-Response Skills
  • 9-12: 12E/H5. Notice and criticize claims that people make when they select only the data that support the claim and ignore any that would contradict it.

AAAS Benchmark Alignments (1993 Version)

12. HABITS OF MIND

E. Critical-Response Skills
  • 12E (6-8) #3.  Be skeptical of arguments based on very small samples of data, biased samples, or samples for which there was no control sample.
  • 12E (9-12) #6.  Suggest alternative ways of explaining data and criticize arguments in which data, explanations, or conclusions are represented as the only ones worth consideration, with no mention of other possibilities. Similarly, suggest alternative trade-offs in decisions and designs and criticize those in which major trade-offs are not acknowledged.
ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!

Record Link
AIP Format
(CBS News, New York, 2009), WWW Document, (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cold-fusion-is-hot-again/).
AJP/PRST-PER
60 Minutes: Cold Fusion Is Hot Again (CBS News, New York, 2009), <https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cold-fusion-is-hot-again/>.
APA Format
60 Minutes: Cold Fusion Is Hot Again. (2009, April 19). Retrieved November 6, 2024, from CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cold-fusion-is-hot-again/
Chicago Format
CBS News. 60 Minutes: Cold Fusion Is Hot Again. New York: CBS News, April 19, 2009. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cold-fusion-is-hot-again/ (accessed 6 November 2024).
MLA Format
60 Minutes: Cold Fusion Is Hot Again. New York: CBS News, 2009. 19 Apr. 2009. 6 Nov. 2024 <https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cold-fusion-is-hot-again/>.
BibTeX Export Format
@misc{ Title = {60 Minutes: Cold Fusion Is Hot Again}, Publisher = {CBS News}, Volume = {2024}, Number = {6 November 2024}, Month = {April 19, 2009}, Year = {2009} }
Refer Export Format

%T 60 Minutes: Cold Fusion Is Hot Again %D April 19, 2009 %I CBS News %C New York %U https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cold-fusion-is-hot-again/ %O application/flash

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %D April 19, 2009 %T 60 Minutes: Cold Fusion Is Hot Again %I CBS News %V 2024 %N 6 November 2024 %8 April 19, 2009 %9 application/flash %U https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cold-fusion-is-hot-again/


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60 Minutes: Cold Fusion Is Hot Again:

Is Supplemented By http://partners.nytimes.com/library/national/science/050399sci-cold-fusion.html

This New York Times article, "Physicists Debunk Claim of a New Kind of Fusion", appeared on 05/03/1989. It discusses the criticisms of the scientific community in regard to the Pons-Fleischmann cold fusion experiments.

relation by Caroline Hall

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