The Case of Cold Fusion

Cold fusion refers to a proposed type of nuclear reaction occurring at or near room temperature, unlike traditional fusion which requires extremely high heat and pressure. In 1989, scientists announced that they had achieved cold fusion by running electricity through a metal (like palladium) loaded with hydrogen or its isotope, claiming it produced excess heat and nuclear byproducts. However, these results were difficult to reproduce reliably, leading the scientific community to remain skeptical. The controversy highlights the challenge of validating groundbreaking claims and the importance of rigorous testing in scientific discoveries.