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Steorn & Claims of Free Energy

Not much real info in the early links, which makes me think this is another smoke and mirrors job.

If an ad doesn't get to the nitty-gritty soon enough, I know it's just a puff to push up the price of whatever is really being offered.

Trust me, I used to sell Encyclopedia Britannica!
 
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.

"The energy isn't being converted from any other source such as the energy within the magnet. It's literally created. Once the technology operates it provides a constant stream of clean energy," he told Ireland's RTE radio.

McCarthy said Steorn had not set out to develop the technology, but "it actually fell out of another project we were working on".

One of the basic principles of physics is that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it can only change form.

McCarthy said a big obstacle to overcome was the disbelief that what they had developed was even possible.

"For the first six months that we looked at it we literally didn't believe it ourselves. Over the last three years it had been rigorously tested in our own laboratories, in independent laboratories and so on," he said.

"But we have been unable to get significant scientific interest in it. We have had scientists come in, test it and, off the record, they are quite happy to admit that it works.

"But for us to be able to commercialise this and put this into peoples' lives we need credible, academic validation in the public domain and hence the challenge," McCarthy said.

© 2006 AFP


http://www.physorg.com/printnews.php?newsid=75115456
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"Science today is locked into paradigms. Every avenue is blocked by
beliefs that are wrong, and if you try to get anything published by a
journal today, you will run against a paradigm and the editors will
turn it down" - Sir Fred Hoyle
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This perpetual motion machine she made is a joke: It just keeps going faster and faster. Lisa, get in here! In this house, we obey the laws of THERMODYNAMICS! -- Homer Simpson
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Hang on, I'm getting a precognitive flash.
This story will continue to bounce around the net for the next few years, with occasional press releases saying that developments of some kind are imminent and then it'll go silent.

At which point someone will explain to us that there was a free energy machine but it was suppressed by Big Oil/NWO/the Templars/the Illuminati/the Potato Marketing Board.

You'll forgive me if I don't hold my breath on this one and adopt a patient 'wait and see' approach.
 
Model T had a front-mounted, 177 in³ (2.9 L) 4 cylinder motor in a block producing 20 hp (15 kW) for a top speed of 45 mph (72 km/h). The engine had side valves and three main bearings. Recent accounts credit the default-configuration Model T with fuel economy on the order of 25 to 30 mpg (7.8-9.4 L/100 km). http://www.answers.com/topic/model-t-ford
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We aint’ moved very far in fuel consumption terms as this is about the same as my Ford car?
 
It sounds like one of those magnetic motor things, do a Google search on Magnetic Motors.
The idea is to get a set of magnets rotating on a wheel within a circle of other magnets.
The attraction/replusion of the different magnets apparently sets up a kind of perpetual motion that can yield an energetic output.

There are plans available on the web to make one, I started to put one together a year or so ago out of sheer curiosity, however I got bored and forgot about it.
 
It screams scam to me, perhaps paradoxically because they've invested in such a proffessional website.
 
 Perpetual Motion Claim Probed

By John Borland
12:00 PM Aug, 21, 2006

Sean McCarthy believes his small Irish high-tech company has overturned one of physics' most fundamental laws.

It happened by accident, he says. His company Steorn was looking for an efficient way to power closed-circuit TVs that spy on ATMs, and instead stumbled on a technique they think produces more energy than it consumes.

The company hasn't released specific details about the process, other than to say it involves magnetic fields configured in precisely the right way. Using the magnets results in a motor that's more than 100 percent efficient -- essentially creating energy, McCarthy says.

For scientists and engineers, this is the equivalent of a perpetual motion machine, and is almost unanimously viewed as flat-out impossible. McCarthy, an affable former energy company engineer, knows just how preposterous his claims sound. So, he advertised in this week's Economist for a panel of the "most cynical possible" physicists to help validate them.

"If we're right, that will come out in due course," McCarthy says. "If we're wrong, that will come out. It's such a big claim that it has to be validated by experts."

A big claim it may be, but hardly original. The clamor of voices saying they've invented revolutionary new "free energy" technologies has grown tumultuous in recent years, driven perhaps by the internet's capacity to connect and inspire would-be tinkerers, or simply a that lay people are more fascinated with science.

The American Physical Society was worried enough about the trend a few years ago that its executive board put out a statement in June 2002, warning against such claims.

"(We are) concerned that in this period of unprecedented scientific advance, misguided or fraudulent claims of perpetual motion machines and other sources of unlimited free energy are proliferating," the group said. "Such devices directly violate the most fundamental laws of nature, laws that have guided the scientific progress that is transforming our world."

McCarthy says he's not using his claims to raise money, at least not yet. Steorn is privately funded, but is not seeking new investment until after the tests have been done, he contends.

The company has, however, filed patent applications on some of its work, and hopes to commercialize it by creating batteries for mobile phones and laptops, both markets that can respond quickly to new technologies. In the unlikely event it is borne out, it could also radically transform the automotive business and other industries.

The drive to create an engine that powers itself, or a self-replenishing source of energy, has long been a holy grail for the tinkering class, with a history stretching back nearly a thousand years. Like alchemy, its medieval pseudo-scientific counterpart, it has attracted high names and low, scientists and faith-based researchers, believers and outright scam artists.

Among the most notable investigators was Leonardo da Vinci, who included drawings of several self-driving devices inside his notebooks. However, he was publicly critical of such schemes, comparing them to the alchemical quest to transmute lead to gold.

Documenters of such schemes nevertheless find an unbroken string of subsequent proposals, tests, and failures that stretch to the present day, occasionally crossing over lines where would-be inventors are accused of running out-and-out con operations.

Perhaps the most famous recent claimant is a flamboyant only-in-America figure named Dennis Lee, who has spent much of the last decade churches and auditoriums across the United States promising "free electricity," among other inventions, and selling rights to open "dealerships" for thousands of dollars at a time. His efforts have led numerous state attorneys general offices to seek sanctions, including a recent string of fines and court orders in the state of Washington.

The flaw with such claims lies in one of the most fundamental principles in basic physics, known as the first law of thermodynamics.

In layman's terms, the first law states that energy is always conserved inside a closed system. It can be transformed into different forms inside the system, such as heat or work, but it can't be created or destroyed.

"Thermodynamics is largely an empirical field, and everything we've observed is consistent with the first law," says Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Ian Waitz. "When you make enough observations over a long period of time, things that start as hypotheses turn into things we call law. This would be not consistent with all other observations, which is a reason to be skeptical."

In the past, most claimants haven't met a standard of ordinary proof, much less an extraordinary one required to overturn a fundamental pillar of modern science. In most cases, sincere claimants have found that they simply didn't calculate the energy produced and consumed correctly.

Some of the most flamboyant inventors have found that their devices were coincidentally broken or burned out when testing time rolled around. Others have simply been exposed as obvious frauds, with batteries or a generator hidden out of sight.

While outlandish, McCarthy's claims have stirred up enough interest to at least hope for a thorough vetting, if not confirmation.

His Economist ad, quoting playwright George Bernard Shaw's dictum that "All great truths begin as blasphemies," is seeking a jury panel of 12 physicists to perform public tests. Whatever the unorthodoxy of that approach, he says the researchers will have no constraints on their work. They will be given full access to the company's work, will be able to take the technology home to test in their own laboratories, or recreate the process themselves.

According to the company's website, nearly 1500 scientists have "expressed interest" in testing the technology as of late Monday, and more than 17,000 people had signed up to receive word of the results.

"Ultimately the aim is so large, that the people involved, and the process that goes on, has to be purer than pure," McCarthy says.

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/gi ... 626-0.html
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OK, if this is a scam they're going about it oddly.

What makes sense is: if this is for real, get it confirmed and validated and then IPO because the share price will go ballistic for a while. And if it turns out that the collective tingling of the spidey-sense is correct, then no harm done.

From the premise that they at least have something to test, it makes irritating sense that they keep the details schtum.
 
Call me a cynic, but it looks like a scam to me. Magnetic perpetual motion machines are sooo retro, I thought we were all on zero-point now?

There was another Irish company with a similar claim about three years ago I think - Jasker Power System - anyone remember them? Any connection?
 
almond13 said:
Model T had a front-mounted, 177 in³ (2.9 L) 4 cylinder motor in a block producing 20 hp (15 kW) for a top speed of 45 mph (72 km/h). The engine had side valves and three main bearings. Recent accounts credit the default-configuration Model T with fuel economy on the order of 25 to 30 mpg (7.8-9.4 L/100 km). http://www.answers.com/topic/model-t-ford
Click to expand...

We aint’ moved very far in fuel consumption terms as this is about the same as my Ford car?
Click to expand...
But I bet your car has a higher top speed and better acceleration.
(And other fancy features like AC, heating, central locking, etc, etc.)
The technology has advanced, even if the gas-guzzling hasn't!
 
What I'd guess is that they're trying to get a load of investment - people eager to buy shares before the technology skyrockets, etc - and then run off with the money. Quite possible that the people figureheading the company aren't even the people in control.
 
rynner said:
almond13 said:
Model T had a front-mounted, 177 in³ (2.9 L) 4 cylinder motor in a block producing 20 hp (15 kW) for a top speed of 45 mph (72 km/h). The engine had side valves and three main bearings. Recent accounts credit the default-configuration Model T with fuel economy on the order of 25 to 30 mpg (7.8-9.4 L/100 km). http://www.answers.com/topic/model-t-ford
Click to expand...

We aint’ moved very far in fuel consumption terms as this is about the same as my Ford car?
Click to expand...
But I bet your car has a higher top speed and better acceleration.
(And other fancy features like AC, heating, central locking, etc, etc.)
The technology has advanced, even if the gas-guzzling hasn't!
Click to expand...

You need a new car Almond matey.

My motor does 60 to the gallon.
 
wembley8 said:
Call me a cynic, but it looks like a scam to me. Magnetic perpetual motion machines are sooo retro, I thought we were all on zero-point now?
Click to expand...
But they're not asking anyone for money (the project so far is independently financed, they claim).
McCarthy says he's not using his claims to raise money, at least not yet. Steorn is privately funded, but is not seeking new investment until after the tests have been done, he contends.
Click to expand...
His Economist ad, quoting playwright George Bernard Shaw's dictum that "All great truths begin as blasphemies," is seeking a jury panel of 12 physicists to perform public tests. Whatever the unorthodoxy of that approach, he says the researchers will have no constraints on their work. They will be given full access to the company's work, will be able to take the technology home to test in their own laboratories, or recreate the process themselves.

According to the company's website, nearly 1500 scientists have "expressed interest" in testing the technology as of late Monday, and more than 17,000 people had signed up to receive word of the results.
Click to expand...
That sounds pretty good to me. If the scientists disprove the claim (as skeptics expect), then well and good - at least the claim was tested.

But to refuse to test the claim on the basis that it's impossible (according to known physical laws) just betrays the true scientific spirit of enquiry, which smacks of quasi-religious dogmatism.
 
The problem is: who is going to pay the 'experts' to take time out of their schedules? I understand the problems of funding, and how much time one can spend on other projects.

Although my physics knowledge is dated (and never the best), I have read a bit about magnetism (purely, by fluke - recent book find :D ). As I understand it, this won't work - surely, the proponents should explain, to a scientist's understanding, why (or how) this is different from previously disproved claims?. I am guessing that this will project will fall apart...

Anyhoo, does anyone remember (from years and years ago) a British eccentric inventor (who got air time) claiming that he had found a fifth force of nature (demonstrated via 'perpetual motion' of a bicycle wheel)? I seem to recall he had a bike wheel on a table and somehow got it to turn without any further effort.......nb. this is a long, long time ago....Any news :D
 
rynner said:
That sounds pretty good to me. If the scientists disprove the claim (as skeptics expect), then well and good - at least the claim was tested.

But to refuse to test the claim on the basis that it's impossible (according to known physical laws) just betrays the true scientific spirit of enquiry, which smacks of quasi-religious dogmatism.
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I agree. It's possible - although perhaps unlikely - that even the First Law has a "get out of jail free" clause and if we don't test for the unlikely then we will never find it.

GadaffiDuck said:
The problem is: who is going to pay the 'experts' to take time out of their schedules? I understand the problems of funding, and how much time one can spend on other projects.
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I would imagine that a lot of physicists will gladly give up their own time, and a lot of companies will consider investing in further research if the initial results are promising as even if the energy turns out to be free then presumably the licience to use the technology will not be, so there's still money to be made.

GadaffiDuck" said:
Anyhoo, does anyone remember (from years and years ago) a British eccentric inventor (who got air time) claiming that he had found a fifth force of nature (demonstrated via 'perpetual motion' of a bicycle wheel)? I seem to recall he had a bike wheel on a table and somehow got it to turn without any further effort.......nb. this is a long, long time ago....Any news
Click to expand...

I think it was the fuss made about the gyroscope at an early Royal Society lecture - I can't think of the details at the moment but no doubt I'll find the reference just after someone else has posted :D

Jane.
 
Thanks Jane :D I was thinking of gyroscopic effect; but I recall the 'bloke' making claims that it wasn't. If anyone knows...please let me know.

RE: time taken out to investigate claims. Well, if funding is available then there will be a rush. But...but....as it currently stands, I can't see anyone wanting to stick a neck out. Although I agree that if an effect is produced (under proper conditions - you know what I mean!), then there will be an undignified scrabble.

Playing the git, I reckon this is probably a fakey......
 
Eric Laithwaite: the man who did not amuse the Royal Society

http://www.alternativescience.com/eric-laithwaite.htm
Standing in the circular well of the Institution's lecture theatre, Laithwaite showed his audience a large gyroscope he had constructed -- an apparatus resembling a motorcycle wheel on the end of a three foot pole (which, is precisely what it was). The wheel could be spun up to high speed on a low-friction bearing driven by a small but powerful electrical motor.

Laithwaite first demonstrated that the apparatus was very heavy -- in fact it weighed more than 50 pounds. It took all his strength and both hands to raise the pole with its wheel much above waist level. When he started to rotate the wheel at high speed, however, the apparatus suddenly became so light that he could raise it easily over his head with just one hand and with no obvious sign of effort.

What on earth was going on? Heavy objects cannot suddenly become lighter just because they are rotating, can they? Such a mass can only be propelled aloft if it is subjected to an external force or if it expels mass, in a rocket engine for example. Had Laithwaite taken to conjuring tricks? Were there concealed strings? Confederates in trapdoors?

If Laithwaite expected gasps of admiration or surprise, he was disappointed. The audience was stunned into silence by his demonstration. When he went on to explain that Newton's laws of motion were apparently being violated by this demonstration, the involuntary hush turned to frosty silence.
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Hopefully the new device won't be dismissed out of hand.

Jane.
 
Well....perhaps, or perhaps not. I always get worried when I hear stories of free energy...
 
Thanks. Loads of reading (gah...I'm gonna have to do it as well...)

Cheers :lol:
 
Maybe they just plugged the machine into a really, really hot mug of tea this time? ;) :D
 
I can remember watching Eric Laithwaite on TV at the time of his revelations. What he demonstrated were forces not in the “theory” and we can’t have that can we?
I suggest anyone interested looks at what Robert Adams of New Zealand has been doing up to his recent death. http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/ ... amsall.htm
There are dozens of similar sites plastered all over the web.
Contrary to what this site says about free energy, his original aim was to show that an electric motor could be incredibly efficient.
It’s possible to build one of his motors cheaply and see for yourself. I mentioned in a previous thread that a ten-year-old American schoolgirl submitted one to the school science fair. http://www.keelynet.com/bedmot/bedmot.htm
 
There are some people who have been discussing this Steorn thing as the beginning of a new Alternate Reality Game, like those used to advertise games and films and things. At least one discussion can be found here. There has also been discussion of this whole thing over on Slashdot.
 
Found a link to all this in NewScientist.com earlier (at work so dont tell anyone).

It all seems pretty easy if we break it down.



Somone is making a claim that could change the word for the better if it turns out to be true.

It therefore should be thoroughly tested in an open minded yet cautious manner by scientists (and perhaps the occasional not so open minded stage magician).

The people developing it should be justly rewarded if true and thoroughly punished if untrue.

It should never leave the eyes of the press to ensure that Oil Co's will leave it alone.

It should be dealt with quickly and either cherished or ditched.



If it turns out to be game related I as an avid gamer (eve online is loaded in the background as I type) I will never have anything to do with the company involved out of principle. A hoax of any sort like this should mean prison or death - nothing less.
 
I suspect the fact that they advertised in the Economist, for scientists to test their wonderful machine, rather than a journal, or magazine, like New Scientist, might just be in the hopes that they attract some venture capital type investors, before the results get published... ;)
 
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