Irish company challenges scientists to test 'free energy' technology

[Buttercup McToots]

http://www.physorg.com/printnews.php?newsid=75115456


Irish company challenges scientists to test 'free energy' technology

An Irish company threw down the gauntlet on Friday to the worldwide scientific community to test a technology it has developed that it claims produces free energy.

The company, Steorn (http://www.steorn.net), says its discovery is based on the interaction of magnetic fields and allows the production of clean, free and constant energy -- a concept that challenges one of the basic rules of physics.

It claims the technology can be used to supply energy for virtually all devices, from mobile phones to cars.

Steorn issued its challenge through an advertisement in the Economist magazine this week quoting Ireland's Nobel prize-winning author George Bernard Shaw who said that "all great truths begin as blasphemies".

Sean McCarthy, Steorn's chief executive officer, said they had issued the challenge for 12 physicists to rigorously test the technology so it can be developed.

"What we have developed is a way to construct magnetic fields so that when you travel round the magnetic fields, starting and stopping at the same position, you have gained energy," McCarthy said.

[bryant69]

1. Someday something like this might very well pan out

Certainly would be goodnews if it did.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. Nothing like this will ever pan out.

It's a whole lot of waste of time.

[bryant69]

3. how do you know?

And do you mean all alternative energy research or just this particlar approach?

Do you believe we are stuck with oil until that runs out and civilization collapses?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. I mean perpetual motion machines.

Devices which claim to violate the laws of thermodynamics, which this guy claims right up front on his website. Which makes me wonder if it's all satire.

Alternative energy is all well and good. Free energy can be dismissed offhand.

[rock]

5. I'm betting your right

There's no free lunch (energy).

[DavidDvorkin]

6. I agree with you there

Every time a claim like this is made, though, I let myself hope that they've discovered something new -- i.e., even if the claimants think they've found a way around conservation of energy, they've unknowingly stumbled on something entirely different that will prove useful.

Alas, it never turns out that way. But I keep hoping, anyway.

[go west young man]

7. Maybe a hoax but they are spending a lot of money and time on it.

A very expensive Economist advertisement plus a 6 year old company with no prior record of fraudulent behavior. Here's the patent application for those that want to look further. http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%

[go west young man]

8. Links not working... here's attempt number 2.

http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=%22low+energy+magnetic+actuator%22&OS=%22low+energy+magnetic+actuator%22&RS=%22low+energy+magnetic+actuator%22

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. It's a hoax either way.

I'm saying it might be a satire of hoaxes.

[Odin2005]

9. It's called "you can't violate the Laws of Physics"

This is purpetual energy snake oil.

And we arn't "stuck with oil" like the Peak Oil Doomers would have you beleive, there is this stuff called biofuel that works just like oil you know... :eyes:

[Beetwasher]

10. "Interaction of Magnetic Fields"

Ok, assuming they can generate energy that way, it's still not "free". Energy would have to go into creating the magnetic fields.

[ThomWV]

12. Is Anyone So Poorly Educated As To Believe This Shit?

Look it up, its called 'conservation of energy'. It is such a simple concept but so utterly demanding.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. Yes.

Years of underminding the public school system are finally coming to fruition.

[Odin2005]

14. It's the same people who use alternative "medicine" and Astrology.

[BlooInBloo]

15. Um, *Americans*?

[karlrschneider]

16. As good as cold fusion?

:eyes:

[WinkyDink]

17. There are more things, Horatio,...

[karlrschneider]

19. And "There's one born every minute..."

;-)

[WinkyDink]

20. Hee. This way to the Egress!

[karlrschneider]

18. This clip from their site shows it's bogus:

"During 2005 Steorn embarked on a process of independent validation and approached a wide selection of academic institutions. The vast majority of these institutions refused to even look at the technology, however several did. Those who were prepared to complete testing have all confirmed our claims; however none will publicly go on record."

[berni_mccoy]

21. TOTALLY BOGUS... they've already filed for a patent...

They supposedly have a working version...

BUT

They don't have a product and aren't telling people about how it works? If they've submitted a patent and have a working version, there is no reason NOT to tell the world how it works and let the chips fall where they may...

UNLESS

It is a hoax.

WHAT THIS REALL IS

is a marketing company pulling a stunt to see how much attention they can get. Plain and simple. After they've generated MILLIONS of hits on their site in interest, they'll use this as an example of their "marketing prowess".

It's been done before.