What is the process of invention?

[Arubi Bushlee]

I make no promises:

I came up with this idea for a new kind of nuclear fusion reactor. I do not want to give off any clues to how it works so I am going to be as vague as possible.

I think it could be a viable means to nuclear fusion becoming... well, breakeven. I have by no means tested it (built it) because that would require a vacuum chamber among other things, and I am broke. I do know that theoretical and experimental are two very different things. Therefore I do not know if it will work, however the concept and math check out.

How do I protect my idea from other people stealing it and claiming it as their own? I've been really paranoid of this. I know the best thing to do is scream to the world and say, "Look everyone! I invented this!" But media has been known to ruin lives, and I am also terrified of that. I've always had problems with media and I don't like it. So what I'm saying is, is there a way to do this anonymously, or should I just give the idea to someone else? I mean I know someone else would take the credit, but ultimately I know that I invented it. "I do not care that they take my ideas, I care that they have none of their own." -Tesla.

To clarify this not an invention, it is more of an idea. I am not inventing the wheel, I am just putting a motor on it and tweaking a few thing so it works better. I am building upon a concept. This also might end up not working at all XD... Because well I haven't tested anything. But still just wanted to know how the science community goes around developing new technologies, because eventually I might think of something that works. XD

P.S. This idea is relatively new (1 day) but I will make schematics soon. If anyone wants me to send them blueprints or something of that nature, so they could help me see if my idea would work, I can in a week.

Again I make no promises, only that I am morbidly curious and lazy.

 

[mfb]

You can patent it.

If the idea is one day old, you did not do the math, that would take much longer. Fusion is complex, and it has hundreds of challenges you probably did not even hear about.
"I just thought of something" is not an interesting new concept. It is probably something hundreds of others thought about, then did the math, and saw that it is not viable.

 

[axmls]

Unfortunately this attitude, I have found, is common among people who don't know how research works. They often claim to have a grand idea (not backed by math) which they're scared of someone stealing. If your idea is a success, the chances are very slim that it gets stolen. If your idea is obviously not good to someone inside the field, you also don't have to worry about it being stolen.

Did you read any relevant literature in the field of nuclear fusion? Do you have a physics background? Do you know specifically what the technical challenges are in creating nuclear fusion right now, and do you have ideas to overcome those specific technical challenges? Why do you feel your idea is superior to everything else that has been tried, especially since you have no math behind it? These aren't things you have to explain to yourself--these are the questions the scientific community would ask that you must be able to answer, or else no one would take you seriously.

Regardless, ideas are a dime a dozen, and if you can't quantify your idea, if you can't put some math behind it, get a prototype, etc., and if someone else happens to come up with the same idea and does that stuff, then you did not come up with it. Sorry, like I said, ideas are a dime a dozen. Implementation is the important part. Einstein didn't just make two postulates and stop there--he did calculations using his ideas.

 

[micromass]

So let's get this straight. You had some kind of idea a day ago. You did not do any math. You did not do any testing. You did not do anything to validate your idea. But still you think that you have gotten an idea that thousands of experts who have worked years on this did not. Really? Really?

 

[Vanadium 50]

But still you think that you have gotten an idea that thousands of experts who have worked years on this did not.

And worse, that these stinkers are circling like vultures, ready to steal this idea.

 

[micromass]

Understandable! I think the nuclear fusion researchers are out of ideas since years. Researchers at the Tokamak are now required to full-time browse the internet for some individual who has a novel idea on fusion. Not just any individual will do though! They specifically want those who have no science background and who did not have time to do the math. Those are the ideas that the fusion researchers are looking for!

 

[Arubi Bushlee]

Understandable! I think the nuclear fusion researchers are out of ideas since years. Researchers at the Tokamak are now required to full-time browse the internet for some individual who has a novel idea on fusion. Not just any individual will do though! They specifically want those who have no science background and who did not have time to do the math. Those are the ideas that the fusion researchers are looking for!

By no means have I calculated anything. I apologize for not being clear on that. By doing the math I mean that there is enough time for fusion to occur, and that they (the particles) are not going fast enough to not be contained. It is a concept I have, and by no means an invention, however that is what I am working toward. I know it is a plausible method of fusion because it has been proven to work and there are other companies doing research in this type of fusion. I am trying to approach it from a different angle. The math is already there for how fast everything is and the energy needed for the particles to be contained, and how to absorb it. I apologize for saying I have done the math, by no means have I done any math. I have read other peoples' math and I have deduced the idea is plausible. It is like the motor. when that thing started out it did like 2 horse power. Some guys came along, (with 100s of years and hard work) tweaked a few things, (I know it's more complicated than that but I say tweaked because the concept is still the same, it's still a motor) and now we have Bugattis. I apologize for saying I have done the math, what I meant to say is I know the idea is plausible.

 

[micromass]

If you haven't done the math and the testing, then you do not know the idea is plausible.

Come on man. You're clearly not stupid. So think for a second. You honestly think a layman like you can come up with something that thousands of experts have missed? This has never happened in the modern history of science!

This is the difference between professional researchers and laymen, I guess. When I do research and I discovered something new, I distrust my result completely. I do a lot of checking and backtracking. Then I present my results to colleagues who put my results under scrutiny too. Only then am I moderately sure that my idea doesn't contain any obvious holes. A layman on the other hand, has an idea and immediately claims everywhere to have solved a major problem. And of course they won't tell anybody since they're going to steal his stuff.

 

[Arubi Bushlee]

If you haven't done the math and the testing, then you do not know the idea is plausible.

Come on man. You're clearly not stupid. So think for a second. You honestly think a layman like you can come up with something that thousands of experts have missed? This has never happened in the modern history of science!

This is the difference between professional researchers and laymen, I guess. When I do research and I discovered something new, I distrust my result completely. I do a lot of checking and backtracking. Then I present my results to colleagues who put my results under scrutiny too. Only then am I moderately sure that my idea doesn't contain any obvious holes. A layman on the other hand, has an idea and immediately claims everywhere to have solved a major problem. And of course they won't tell anybody since they're going to steal his stuff.

fair enough. I see your point, and I see you clearly know a lot about physics. If I do do the math and show you a how the reactor work, will you tell me if it will actually work or not. If it is at least, plausible. I genuinely have an interest in nuclear fusion and would like to know if I am getting somewhere.

 

[Arubi Bushlee]

There was a post back in 2012 (I know it is very old) titled “Is Muon-Catalyzed fusion possible with room temperature, gaseous Deuterium?” It addressed some of the major problems of producing energy with muon catalyzed fusion.Muon catalyzed fusion is the process of replacing one, or preferably both of the electrons in a Hydrogen molecule with a muon. A muon is a subatomic cousin of the electron. They are both leptons, only an electron has a mass of roughly .000511 GeV/c^2 and a muon has a mass of .106 GeV/c^2. Muons are roughly 207 times more massive than electrons. The muon has the same charge as the electron, only it is much larger than the electron. When it approaches a Hydrogen molecule it knocks the electron out of its orbit and takes its place. Because the muon is 207 times more massive the the electron, its orbit is 207 times closer. This brings the protons much closer to each other. Oridinary Hydrogen molecules have an atomic radius of 53 pm (53 picometers). That means the nuclei of hydrogen molecules are roughly 106 pm apart. The muon’s orbit brings the two Hydrogen nuclei 207 times closer. The resulting nuclei are roughly .51 or half a picometer apart. Hydrogen nuclei are close enough for quantum tunneling to then take over. The two nuclei fuse. The muon is then ejected out and hopefully lands on another hydrogen molecule. It will then knock the electron out of its orbit, replace it, and catalyze another fusion reaction. The process is then repeated until the muon decays. The muon however is unstable and has a mean lifetime of about: 2.2 microseconds. Now we get to the challange.

Solving these problems:a)the muon decays before it can catalyze a number of fusion reactions to break-evenb)some muons stick to the helium nuclei they have created, thus not allowing them to catalyze any more fusion reactions.c)He3 atoms that have already fused can catch muons that would have gone to catalyze deuterium fusion.

These look like three separate problems but they really aren’t. It all boils down to, muons are expensive. If they were cheap: a) who cares if it decays, they are cheap. b) who cares if muons stick to helium nuclei, I have a crap-ton more. c) who cares if He3 nuclei steal muons, I have a crap-ton more.

It all boils down to: where can I get some muons that are easily to make, plentiful, and cheap. This was explored in the thread I mentioned earlier: “Is Muon-Catalyzed fusion possible with room temperature, gaseous Deuterium?”Muons are created when solar wind strikes particles on Earth’s atmosphere. They are generated roughly 15km above sea level. They rain down on Earth and go straight through everything. They are generated with roughly 6 GeV of energy and lose about a third of that and hit Earth with 4 Gev. Ordinary matter has trouble absorbing muons created in Earth’s atmosphere as those muons are moving at roughly 98% the speed of light. At around 300,000,000m/s with a mean lifetime of 2.2 microseconds they should only travel 660 meters. Despite their short half life their time dilation keeps them alive long enough to hit the ground in detectable and significant numbers. Muons can even be detected several hundred meters underground, although not very well. The Soudan 2 Detector has detected muons underground, however the rate of detection is less than that which is hoped for. According to The Sudan Underground Laboratory: “On the surface, a detector the size of your hand would detect about 2 muons per second. Down in the lab, 1/2 mile underground, that same detector would detect about 2 muons per week.” which is crap. However 1 muon per square centimeter strikes earth’s surface per minute. We know most muons are getting past us.So this is my idea:a giant pole.A vertical LINAC is built at a significant altitude above sea level. Deuterium atoms are ionized and their nuclei are shot downwards at roughly 98% the speed of light. Muons penetrate the LINAC and since they are traveling downward at the same speed of the protons they are stationary relative to one another. The tube which they travel down will get progressively narrower bringing the molecules closer to one another, allowing muons to jump from one to the other with more ease. Protons and muons will attract one another because of their opposite charges and form a Deuterium molecule, and fusion is catalyzed. The deuterium is then brought back up to the top for another pass. Not all muons strike Earth vertically. Only about 66% of muons are vertical, the rest come at an angle. However 6600 muons per m^2 per minute is still a lot. Those that come in at fairly small angles still have a chance to be absorbed. I know it is a lot more complicated than that. You would need to contain both the proton and Muon, the neutrons resulting from fusion and then somehow figure out how to absorb the energy. It is a huge stretch, to put it mildly.

You can patent it.

If the idea is one day old, you did not do the math, that would take much longer. Fusion is complex, and it has hundreds of challenges you probably did not even hear about.
"I just thought of something" is not an interesting new concept. It is probably something hundreds of others thought about, then did the math, and saw that it is not viable.

Unfortunately this attitude, I have found, is common among people who don't know how research works. They often claim to have a grand idea (not backed by math) which they're scared of someone stealing. If your idea is a success, the chances are very slim that it gets stolen. If your idea is obviously not good to someone inside the field, you also don't have to worry about it being stolen.

Did you read any relevant literature in the field of nuclear fusion? Do you have a physics background? Do you know specifically what the technical challenges are in creating nuclear fusion right now, and do you have ideas to overcome those specific technical challenges? Why do you feel your idea is superior to everything else that has been tried, especially since you have no math behind it? These aren't things you have to explain to yourself--these are the questions the scientific community would ask that you must be able to answer, or else no one would take you seriously.

Regardless, ideas are a dime a dozen, and if you can't quantify your idea, if you can't put some math behind it, get a prototype, etc., and if someone else happens to come up with the same idea and does that stuff, then you did not come up with it. Sorry, like I said, ideas are a dime a dozen. Implementation is the important part. Einstein didn't just make two postulates and stop there--he did calculations using his ideas.

And worse, that these stinkers are circling like vultures, ready to steal this idea.

Understandable! I think the nuclear fusion researchers are out of ideas since years. Researchers at the Tokamak are now required to full-time browse the internet for some individual who has a novel idea on fusion. Not just any individual will do though! They specifically want those who have no science background and who did not have time to do the math. Those are the ideas that the fusion researchers are looking for!

All I want to know is: Is the concept is viable or not, and if not, why. I don’t need mean sarcastic vultures. I am 15. I know I am naive and stupid. But I am also curious and I want to learn.

mfb and some other guys had a thread about this a while back. I just want to know if the idea of accelerating protons to the same velocity as muons would allow more muons to be absorbed. Here is that thread:

https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...th-room-temperature-gaseous-deuterium.627586/
Sources:http://www.sudan.umn.edu/background/index_2.shtml
The underground muon detectorhttp://periodictable.com/Properties/A/AtomicRadius.v.html
atomic radius of Hydrogenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muon-catalyzed_fusion#Problems_facing_practical_exploitation
This is wikipedia, make sure you verify any information here elsewhere. Anything here I have said is verified elsewhere. General information about muon catalyzed fusionhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/relativ/muon.html
http://cosmic.lbl.gov/SKliewer/Cosmic_Rays/Muons.htm
atmospheric muon time dilationhttps://www.i2u2.org/elab/cosmic/po...h_high_school-grosse_pointe-mi-2014.0703.data
non-vertical muons
*edit* nevermind muon flux too low. :C

 

[zoobyshoe]

Come on man. You're clearly not stupid. So think for a second. You honestly think a layman like you can come up with something that thousands of experts have missed? This has never happened in the modern history of science!

I guess you've never heard the story of Lorenzo's Oil:

This severe form of adrenoleukodystrophy was first described by Ernst Siemerling and Hans Gerhard Creutzfeldt in 1923.[5] Lorenzo was diagnosed in 1984, using a new blood test that had been recently developed. People with the disease were usually young boys (5–10 years old), who would gradually become mute, deaf, blind and paralysed before dying, which typically happened within two years due to aspiration or neurological causes.

Augusto and Michaela refused to accept this grim prognosis, and fought to find a treatment for their son's fatal disease, clashing time after time with doctors, specialists, and support groups, some of whom were skeptical that two average citizens could produce a cure. With the help of Hugo Moser,[6] and through long hours of research and study, the Odones, who had had no previous medical background, came up with a treatment. This treatment involved the consumption of a specially prepared oil, which became known as "Lorenzo's oil".[7]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augusto_and_Michaela_Odone

So, yeah, it is possible for a layman to come up with something thousands of experts have missed.

The argument, "He's a layman therefore he's wrong," is an ad hominem fallacy. He's either right or wrong because he's either right or wrong.

 

[micromass]

I guess you've never heard the story of Lorenzo's Oil:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augusto_and_Michaela_Odone

So, yeah, it is possible for a layman to come up with something thousands of experts have missed.

The argument, "He's a layman therefore he's wrong," is an ad hominem fallacy. He's either right or wrong because he's either right or wrong.

With the help of Huge Moser and through long hours of research and study, the Odones, who had had no previous medical background, came up with a treatment. Doesn't actually sound like the story of the OP, now does it?

 

[zoobyshoe]

With the help of Huge Moser and through long hours of research and study, the Odones, who had had no previous medical background, came up with a treatment. Doesn't actually sound like the story of the OP, now does it?

You missed the relevant part: "...clashing time after time with doctors, specialists, and support groups, some of whom were skeptical that two average citizens could produce a cure." In other words, the argument, "He's a layman, therefore he's wrong," is a logical fallacy. When Mr. X, with no education, designs a "fuel-less engine", it doesn't fail to work because he's a layman, because, it would equally fail to work if designed by a PhD.

 

[micromass]

You missed the relevant part: "...clashing time after time with doctors, specialists, and support groups, some of whom were skeptical that two average citizens could produce a cure." In other words, the argument, "He's a layman, therefore he's wrong," is a logical fallacy. When Mr. X, with no education, designs a "fuel-less engine", it doesn't fail to work because he's a layman, because, it would equally fail to work if designed by a PhD.

I don't care. If the OP came here and said "I have done studies and research for years, and together with a world expert on fusion, I have made a novel improvement to fusion", then I would take him seriously. Right now he just thought of something yesterday and thinks everybody will steal it from him.

I'm not going to put any time, effort or money in this OP. You apparently think he's worth something, so you go ahead and fund him then.

 

[Vanadium 50]

I don't think you have to worry about anyone stealing this idea.

I am 15... I want to learn.

If you want to learn, you should start by asking questions, not by telling us that you are so incomparably brilliant that you can come up with an idea that is so much better than the ideas of the thousands of people who work on this daily that it doesn't need math and it doesn't need testing.

You also need to decide if you want to be treated as a child or an adult. If the latter, you can't then fall back on "I'm just a child!"

 

[zoobyshoe]

I don't care.

You don't care that you're committing a logical fallacy?

If the OP came here and said "I have done studies and research for years, and together with a world expert on fusion, I have made a novel improvement to fusion", then I would take him seriously. Right now he just thought of something yesterday and thinks everybody will steal it from him.

There was a point where the Odone's idea was one day old and they had no expert chemist to help them realize it. According to your logic, they would be wrong up until the point they succeeded, and then suddenly, everything gets retroactively promoted to everything they did being right? Or something?

I'm not going to put any time, effort or money in this OP. You apparently think he's worth something, so you go ahead and fund him then.

What I think is that your statement, "This has never happened in the modern history of science!," is incorrect, and that the argument, "He's a layman, therefore he is wrong," is a logical fallacy.

 

[micromass]

What I think is that your statement, "This has never happened in the modern history of science!," is incorrect, and that the argument, "He's a layman, therefore he is wrong," is a logical fallacy.

Do you think the OP could possibly have invented something that many experts have missed, taking into account everything the OP said in the thread?

 

[zoobyshoe]

Do you think the OP could possibly have invented something that many experts have missed, taking into account everything the OP said in the thread?

So, you're just going to stick to your 'debunking by application of logical fallacy' shtick.

 

[micromass]

So, you're just going to stick to your 'debunking by application of logical fallacy' shtick.

Well, you must think it's possible the OP is on to something. Good for you, but I don't buy that. Here's a word of advice. If the OP is right, then he will be making millions by his invention soon. Better jump on the bandwagon. Give the guy some money. You'll make it back in no time. Where's the risk? Unless of course you don't believe the guy is up to something at all!

 

[zoobyshoe]

Well, you must think it's possible the OP is on to something. Good for you, but I don't buy that. Here's a word of advice. If the OP is right, then he will be making millions by his invention soon. Better jump on the bandwagon. Give the guy some money. You'll make it back in no time. Where's the risk? Unless of course you don't believe the guy is up to something at all!

No, you don't seem to grasp I am not arguing the OP's innovation is viable. I am arguing that your argument against it being viable is a logical fallacy.

 

[Vanadium 50]

I don't think the case where amateurs work in conjunction with experts is a good counter-example to the "lone genius working alone" model described here. It's also worth pointing out that in fact Lorenzo's Oil is not the cure that was claimed, and indeed, is not a cure at all. It may be useful as a treatment to delay onset of symptoms, but then the argument is, "These non-experts invented X to do Y. But it doesn't do Y. Well, that's OK, it does Z and Z is useful too."

I don't think this is a good counter-example period, but it is certainly not a good counter-example to this one, where there was

• No collaboration with experts
• No calculations
• No testing
• Not more than a day spent on it

 

[micromass]

No, you don't seem to grasp I am not arguing the OP's innovation is viable.

Why don't you think the OP's innovation is viable?

 

[russ_watters]

I've never cooked anything before, watched a cooking show or read anything about cooking, but I've come up with a dish I know will be great. Anyone want to try it?

 

[zoobyshoe]

I don't think the case where amateurs work in conjunction with experts is a good counter-example to the "lone genius working alone" model described here.

The OP is asking for people to look at his schematic and critique it. He's not claiming it's genius.

It's also worth pointing out that in fact Lorenzo's Oil is not the cure that was claimed, and indeed, is not a cure at all. It may be useful as a treatment to delay onset of symptoms, but then the argument is, "These non-experts invented X to do Y. But it doesn't do Y. Well, that's OK, it does Z and Z is useful too."

I don't think this is a good counter-example period, but it is certainly not a good counter-example to this one, where there was

• No collaboration with experts
• No calculations
• No testing
• Not more than a day spent on it

Everyone seems to have missed the part where he says, "This also might end up not working at all XD... Because well I haven't tested anything. But still just wanted to know how the science community goes around developing new technologies, because eventually I might think of something that works. XD"

So, although he has a specific idea at this point, he wants more general info about how ideas get developed, and protected, in case he ever comes up with a good one. People are blowing his self-assessment out of proportion.

 

[russ_watters]

You missed the relevant part: "...clashing time after time with doctors, specialists, and support groups, some of whom were skeptical that two average citizens could produce a cure." In other words, the argument, "He's a layman, therefore he's wrong," is a logical fallacy. When Mr. X, with no education, designs a "fuel-less engine", it doesn't fail to work because he's a layman, because, it would equally fail to work if designed by a PhD.
[separate]
The argument, "He's a layman therefore he's wrong," is an ad hominem fallacy. He's either right or wrong because he's either right or wrong.

You're really barking up the wrong tree here, Z. Besides the fact that your examples don't make any sense or apply (a PhD might make something that would fail, but wouldn't bring it here to discuss without testing it!), neither is ad hominem always a fallacy.

ad hominem isn't a fallacy if the personal detail being pointed out (lack of qualification) is actually relevant.

 

[micromass]

The OP is asking for people to look at his schematic and critique it. He's not claiming it's genius.
Everyone seems to have missed the part where he says, "This also might end up not working at all XD... Because well I haven't tested anything. But still just wanted to know how the science community goes around developing new technologies, because eventually I might think of something that works. XD"

So, although he has a specific idea at this point, he wants more general info about how ideas get developed, and protected, in case he ever comes up with a good one. People are blowing his self-assessment out of proportion.

And we are giving him good advice - although we might be somewhat sarcastic. The advice is that the OP should study hard and long until he mastered the specifics of the field. He should also converse with colleagues and other specialists in the field. The Lorenzo oil people you like to reference happen to have done exactly that.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Why don't you think the OP's innovation is viable?

I don't have any idea if it's viable or not and I don't have an opinion about it. If its not viable, it will be because there is an error or errors in it, not because it emanated from a layman.

 

[Vanadium 50]

I've never cooked anything before, watched a cooking show or read anything about cooking, but I've come up with a dish I know will be great. Anyone want to try it?

I've never gone to medical school or even taken first aid training. But I've got a set of steakknives and I read I am Joe's Hangnail. Anyone willing to let me perform surgery on them?

 

[micromass]

I don't have any idea if it's viable or not and I don't have an opinion about it. If its not viable, it will be because there is an error or errors in it, not because it emanated from a layman.

You really have no opinion on the matter?

Let's say you are part of a political committee funding science projects. You see this OP asking you for money for his project, and you see a well-respected professor in fusion asking for funding. Who would you rather give the money to? Would you give the OP any money at all?

 

[russ_watters]

... I read I am Joe's Hangnail.

[google] Not sure if that is a joke or an actual article, but if it exists, I'd like to read it...

 

[zoobyshoe]

And we are giving him good advice - although we might be somewhat sarcastic. The advice is that the OP should study hard and long until he mastered the specifics of the field. He should also converse with colleagues and other specialists in the field. The Lorenzo oil people you like to reference happen to have done exactly that.

I don't see any harm whatever in him asking people here to look at it even at this one-day-old stage because it shows, to me at least, he doesn't want to linger on it if it turns out to be easily shown to be in error. In other words, he is trying to do exactly what several are accusing him of not doing: consulting.

 

[micromass]

I don't see any harm whatever in him asking people here to look at it even at this one-day-old stage because it shows, to me at least, he doesn't want to linger on it if it turns out to be easily shown to be in error. In other words, he is trying to do exactly what several are accusing him of not doing: consulting.

Uuuh, he's not consulting? His OP asked how he could protect his "invention" from the thiefs (= experts in fusion).

 

[zoobyshoe]

You really have no opinion on the matter?

Let's say you are part of a political committee funding science projects. You see this OP asking you for money for his project, and you see a well-respected professor in fusion asking for funding. Who would you rather give the money to? Would you give the OP any money at all?

No, because he flat out said he doesn't guarantee it. If, however, I were some kind of nuclear physicist, I'd look at his schematic for the hell of it. He's receptive to criticism.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Uuuh, he's not consulting? His OP asked how he could protect his "invention" from the thiefs (= experts in fusion).

He says:

P.S. This idea is relatively new (1 day) but I will make schematics soon. If anyone wants me to send them blueprints or something of that nature, so they could help me see if my idea would work, I can in a week.

 

[micromass]

No, because he flat out said he doesn't guarantee it. If, however, I were some kind of nuclear physicist, I'd look at his schematic for the hell of it. He's receptive to criticism.

I don't think you'll get any respected research scientist giving you guarantees either. The research scientist has an idea for a project that might or might not work out. All he has is a very vague description of his ideas, he doesn't have guarantees either.

 

[micromass]

He says:

So clearly this thread was not about helping him with his research since his schematics aren't even done yet. The purpose of this thread is how to protect his research from being stolen. Arguing otherwise is just dishonest.

 

[zoobyshoe]

So clearly this thread was not about helping him with his research since his schematics aren't even done yet. The purpose of this thread is how to protect his research from being stolen. Arguing otherwise is just dishonest.

That was certainly his main concern. How do you protect an innovative idea? Nothing wrong with that question.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Not sure if that is a joke or an actual article, but if it exists, I'd like to read it...

Years ago, the Reader's Digest had a series "I am Joe's Heart", "I Am Joe's Liver", "I am Joe's Stomach", etc. These were a few page overview of what various organs were, where they were, ehat they did, etc.

 

[micromass]

That was certainly his main concern. How do you protect an innovative idea? Nothing wrong with that question.

Right. And nothing wrong with our responses that he shouldn't be worrying about that for now.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Right. And nothing wrong with our responses that he shouldn't be worrying about that for now.

Why shouldn't he? Whatever he's thinking about today, tomorrow he might actually come up with some obviously good idea about something.

 

[OmCheeto]

Right. And nothing wrong with our responses that he shouldn't be worrying about that for now.

He got the correct response in post #2, right off the bat, IMHO; "You can patent it".

I'm an inventive person, also. And that's my pat answer to these types of questions.

 

[micromass]

Why shouldn't he? Whatever he's thinking about today, tomorrow he might actually come up with some obviously good idea about something.

I don't know how you think science research works. He's not going to come up with a good idea about fusion in one day without doing a lot more studying.
I find your attitude very insulting towards experts who have been struggling with this matter for years. And you think a 15 year old kid can just "solve fusion" in a day? Be serious please...

 

[zoobyshoe]

I don't know how you think science research works. He's not going to come up with a good idea about fusion in one day without doing a lot more studying.
I find your attitude very insulting towards experts who have been struggling with this matter for years. And you think a 15 year old kid can just "solve fusion" in a day? Be serious please...

The odds against him having "solved fusion" are high. However, as I said, he might have a good idea about something tomorrow, or at some point in the future, at which point he would want to take steps to protect it.

 

[micromass]

The odds against him having "solved fusion" are high.

Why?

 

[zoobyshoe]

Why?

Exactly why you think they are. That doesn't translate to "He's a layman, therefore he is wrong," however.

 

[micromass]

Exactly why you think they are. That doesn't translate to "He's a layman, therefore he is wrong," however.

Thank you very much, then we are in agreement.

 

[russ_watters]

I don't see any harm whatever in him asking people here to look at it even at this one-day-old stage because it shows, to me at least, he doesn't want to linger on it if it turns out to be easily shown to be in error. In other words, he is trying to do exactly what several are accusing him of not doing: consulting.

It isn't just about consulting (education first!) and the harm in looking at and evaluating the idea is that it validates the approach he's taking. That approach is fundamentally flawed and that's part of the reason we don't allow such discussions on PF.

 

[Astronuc]

Muon catalyzed fusion has been considered in a variety of environments, including high altitude and in space. The muon flux is too low.

*edit* nevermind muon flux too low. :C

Yep

http://cosmic.lbl.gov/SnowMass/main.html

https://cds.cern.ch/record/427778/files/0002052.pdf

http://www-rccn.icrr.u-tokyo.ac.jp/rccnws04/proceedings/081-090.pdf

From the link to muon page at Hyperphysics:
1 muon per square centimeter per minute at sea level. From the other links, it seems to be an increase with altitude, but not more than a couple of orders of magnitude at say 15000 ft (4.6 km)
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/particles/muonatm.htmlOne has to do the math and the physics, and if that works out, the engineering.

 

[Sophia]

I have no idea if his invention is good. Probably not for the reasons micromass but also zoobyshoe agree with.
But hey, he's a 15 years old boy who is daydreaming- everyone at his age thinks he can save the planet. It seems according to his post that he knows more about Physics than most of his peers. One day he may become a scientist. He asks legitimate questions (is my idea correct? And how does one protect an invention?). He repeatedly says he's not sure about the idea and by posting on PF he's trying to consult experts. This is probably all he can do at his age.
I see no point in yelling at him using multiple exclamation marks and scolding him in "who do you think you are?!" style.
Answering this boy in a normal manner ( eg. I've read your description and there is this problem-as @Astronuc did ) does not mean "disrespecting experts".
I don't know why this innocent thread got so personal and negative.

 

[micromass]

I have no idea if his invention is good. Probably not for the reasons micromass but also zoobyshoe agree with.
But hey, he's a 15 years old boy who is daydreaming- everyone at his age thinks he can save the planet. It seems according to his post that he knows more about Physics than most of his peers. One day he may become a scientist. He asks legitimate questions (is my idea correct? And how does one protect an invention?). He repeatedly says he's not sure about the idea and by posting on PF he's trying to consult experts. This is probably all he can do at his age.
I see no point in yelling at him using multiple exclamation marks and scolding him in "who do you think you are?!" style.
Answering this boy in a normal manner ( eg. I've read your description and there is this problem-as @Astronuc did ) does not mean "disrespecting experts".
I don't know why this innocent thread got so personal and negative.

Whenever a thread like this comes up, there are always two different responses. One side is encouraging him to ask more scientific questions. The other side is telling him to drop the attitude, to stop daydreaming and actually do science the way everybody does it. I believe both sides are necessary for him to hear.