Too Hot to Handle

The book delves into the cold fusion controversy sparked by Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons in 1989, who claimed to have achieved atomic fusion in a test tube. It explores the unusual circumstances of their announcement at a press conference, the media frenzy that followed, and the subsequent impact on scientific research and government programs. Frank Close, a physicist and science writer, provides insights into the motivations behind the claims and the chaotic response from the scientific community, revealing the complexities of the debate.