Cold fusion and reproducibility

Feldman replies: In response to Fred McGalliard, it is instructive to compare the American Physical Society meeting right after the first reports of high-temperature superconductivity with the one right after reports of cold fusion. From what I remember, more than 100 physicists reported the observation of high-temperature superconductivity; in the meeting following cold fusion, the majority of the talks were sharply critical of the initial claim. That is an excellent example of the essential role of reproducibility in a well-functioning physics enterprise. I must also comment on a statement McGalliard made about physicists having fun with cold fusion. I wonder if he investigated whether graduate students who did their theses on cold fusion had fun finding their next position or having a productive scientific career.

My response to Scott Chubb is simple: I’m from the show-me state. If cold fusion is to be accepted as valid by physicists like me, it must demonstrate the same level of reproducibility that high-temperature superconductivity has. So far, it has not come remotely close.