THOMAS WAS READY TO RETIRE,
DAVID HAD OTHER PLANS
Thomas wouldn't have been surprised by a letter to the
effect, "What's the matter, Stupid, don't you read the newspapers?
Cold Fusion is a fraud!" Instead, Under Secretary Gee's letter
stated:
"Department of Energy scientists
and others ... have investigated zero point energy sciences....
Thus far, results clearly show that there is a net residual
energy even at the zero absolute temperature, under vacuum
conditions. A number of technical papers have been published
in respected journals stating that, theoretically, zero point
energy can be extracted from electromagnetic fluctuations of
the vacuum. Additionally, eight patents have been issued on zero
point energy, including one issued to the Air Force Rocket Propulsion
Laboratory."
Thomas telephoned David to notify him of the letter, and
faxed him a copy. Thomas and David agreed they were both perplexed
about a significant point:
"Presently, scientific feasibility
studies are in the beginning stages and the development of a
technology for energy production from ZPE may be decades away."
Well, sure, Thomas and David agreed once more,
if research and development of technology is virtually non-existent,
production might be decades, or more, away. On the other hand
... assuming "scientific feasibility," as DoE's letter
specifically does ... given sufficient research and development
production might actually be much closer than "decades away."
Remember the Manhattan Project.
Although the letter invited "further questions,"
lacking knowledge of physics, loath to display his ignorance Thomas,
was not anxious to contact, Ehsan Khan, the apparent resident
DoE expert. Unafraid to confront the government's doctor of physics,
David, was quick to contact Khan to ask more questions about research
funding.
David reported that Dr. Khan claimed DoE was
spending next to nothing on ZPE, or other high risk research,
and that within DoE the division devoted to such research was
administered by a man without any scientific background. David
was particularly fired-up by the term "'Holy
Grail' of energy research" contained in the technical
attachment to the DoE letter.