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05 Jul 2007
The planned demonstration of a device touted as being able to generate free power using the Earth's magnetic field has been put on hold after "technical difficulties".
Irish company Steorn claims that its Orbo machine will produce free, clean power to electrical generators.
The firm took out a full page advert in The Economist last year asking scientists to test its invention.
Steorn had planned a week-long demonstration of the technology at London's Kinetica Museum yesterday.
"We are experiencing some technical difficulties with the demo unit in London," said the company in a statement.
"Our initial assessment indicates that this is probably due to the intense heat from the camera lighting.
"We have commenced a technical assessment and will provide an update later today. As a consequence, Kinetica will not be open to the public today [5 July]. We apologise for this delay and appreciate your patience."
If the Orbo device lives up to the company's claims, it would violate the law of energy conservation which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed but migrates to different forms.
Steorn claims that power is generated using "time variant magneto-mechanical interactions" that occur naturally.
Orbo's efficacy has been greeted with worldwide scepticism. The panel of experts volunteering to study the technology are not due to report until the end of this year.
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Do you agree?
Just build the Flintstones Car!!!
Am I crazy...or has nobody ever seen the Flintstones 3000? It's a car that transfers a heavy steel cylinder inside a back wheel assembly forward and causes the car to move around converting the weight of the steel cylinder into propulsion because of gravity. The physics for this vehicle have already been proven. Where have you guys been?
Posted by: L.G. 08 Aug 2008
No brains
Cant believe some are defending this rubbish as if it's science, Dumbo got it right, the energy is being transfered, the rest who dont like this or live in fairy land and are wishing that this will solve the worlds problems, are quite simply - fools
Posted by: Big Ears 10 Jul 2007
Ye
Did the writer have any clue about geo magnetic Energy transfer. The energy is being transferd without resistance none is being created but none is being lost.
Posted by: ez 06 Jul 2007
Who's The Dumbo Dumbo?
I guess it's easy for idiots to claim knowledge of something of which they have no idea about eh Dumbo? Names pretty fitting I would say, good choice. Be prepared to eat those words guy, you will be hearing about Steorn for a long, long time from now on.
Posted by: Gerard 06 Jul 2007
Wow
I don't know who is the bigger idiot, the first poster or the second one. First of all "dumbo", you have no clue where the energy is being transfered from, unless you are of course on of the 22 scientists on the jury for Steorn. Don't flame the author of this article when it is you sir, you does not seem to be to clever. Get some facts first before spouting off. Here's hoping Steorn is succesful. This World needs it.
Posted by: Tyler 06 Jul 2007
Manners
And whoever posted that comment is not very polite.
Posted by: MoqingBird 06 Jul 2007
Read the story closely
I said that the company is claiming to break the law of energy conservation (which they do on their web site), not that the machine does, or that its method of operation would.
Posted by: Iain Thomson 06 Jul 2007
Free energy
Please understand that finding a source of "free energy" is entirely different from violating the principle of conservation of energy.
Posted by: Ronan 05 Jul 2007
Not necessarily breaking any laws
I don't know much about this project, but according to the description, the device will not be breaking the Conservation of Energy Law. It just converts potential energy (magnetic) into electrical energy.
Posted by: ostyn 05 Jul 2007
Dumbo's
This invention does not defy any laws, it does migrate energy from one system (earth's magnetic field) to another (the device)....whoever wrote this article is not very clever
Posted by: JS 05 Jul 2007
Well yes and no
While yes it is not defying laws it is still getting energy for free. The magnetic field of the earth is not currently considered a consumable because, it is just there. Although, the magnetic core of the earth I suppose could be considered a consumable if it were to somehow slowly lose its magnetism. I believe if this works it will a great innovation in the world of power generation, however I think a lot of study will come of it to figure out if "using" the earth's magnetics will somehow effect the earth. But honestly, it couldn't possibly be worse that sucking it dry of oil and polluting the atmosphere right???
Posted by: Scott 05 Jul 2007
It's a con, of course.
I'm surprised they had the guts to go as far as they have with such a silly thing. Not one to invest in, unless you have more money than sense, in which case I have some dilithium crystals to show you.
Posted by: Walrus 05 Jul 2007
Con.
Con.
Posted by: con 05 Jul 2007