by Steven Krivit

“I think the point that we’re making is that this publicity stunt, and it is a publicity stunt, has one direct aim, and that is to grab the attention of the scientific world really to get them angry enough to have to deal with this.

The question we’re asking is an honest question to the world of science: either prove this works or prove it doesn’t work – whatever you find, and to also make absolutely sure the answer is put into the public domain. As far as we’re concerned, we’re not asking a question we don’t know the answer to.” – Sean McCarthy, Chief Executive Officer of Steorn

As far as I know, there is no such thing as free energy, or magnetic motor energy. Science textbooks make it clear that such talk is nonsense, the equivalent of perpetual motion. And no inventor has come forward so far to physically demonstrate to the public that science has been incomplete in its understanding and explanation of the physical universe.

Last week, principles from Steorn, an Irish technology company posted a full-page ad in The Economist magazine challenging the world’s physicists to a duel: Come test our machine, and prove us right or wrong.

“Our position on this is that we don’t expect anybody in the general public to believe us at this point,” McCarthy said. “We’re just asking people to believe the process [of the audit.] We’re saying that at the end of this process, the answer is going to be published whether we’re right or wrong.”

They are inviting a panel of scientists to audit their claims, with virtually no restrictions, except to publicly disclose their findings once the audit is complete.

Without a doubt, the manner in which Steorn has proceeded is unconventional. But then, so is its claim: energy with no apparent material source.

Naturally, it makes no sense for them to proceed in a conventional scientific manner. The peer review process is grossly incapable of handling unconventional claims and paradigm-challenging research.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak with Sean McCarthy, Chief Executive Officer of Steorn, and ask every question that I could think of. My conclusion at the end of our talk is that I have no idea what to make of all this. However, I can say that McCarthy was very direct and forthcoming with me.

Steorn has issued a bold challenge to the physics establishment, and this establishment will not acquiesce without a fight.

I predict that none of us will know whether this claim is valid for months, perhaps years. If the company’s panel of experts determines that the claim demonstrates new science, the remaining question is, Who will pay attention to it and who will ignore it?

Introduction to the interview and two sound clips (2:47 minutes)
http://newenergytimes.com/Audio/2006Steorn-McCarthyIntro-Aug24.mp3

Full interview, (51 minutes, includes introduction)
http://newenergytimes.com/Audio/2006Steorn-McCarthyFull-Aug24.mp3