Editing Cold fusion (section)

== Conferences ==
Cold fusion researchers were for many years unable to get papers accepted at scientific meetings, prompting the creation of their own conferences. The [[International Conference on Cold Fusion]] (ICCF) was first held in 1990 and has met every 12 to 18 months since. Attendees at some of the early conferences were described as offering no criticism to papers and presentations for fear of giving ammunition to external critics,{{sfn|ps=|Park|2000|pp=12–13}} thus allowing the proliferation of [[Crank (person)|crackpots]] and hampering the conduct of serious science.{{sfn|ps=|Goodstein|1994}}<ref group="notes">The first three conferences are commented in detail in {{harvnb|Huizenga|1993 |pp=237–247, 274–285}}, specially 240, 275–277</ref> Critics and skeptics stopped attending these conferences, with the notable exception of Douglas Morrison,<ref>{{harvnb|Huizenga|1993|pp=276}}, {{harvnb|Park|2000|pp=12–13}}, {{harvnb|Simon|2002|p=108}}</ref> who died in 2001. With the founding in 2004 of the International Society for Condensed Matter Nuclear Science (ISCMNS),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://iscmns.org/mission/faq/#ref1|title=ISCMNS FAQ|website=iscmns.org|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223114431/http://www.iscmns.org/faq.htm#ref1|archive-date=23 December 2011}}</ref> the conference was renamed the International Conference on Condensed Matter Nuclear Science{{sfn|ps=|Simon|2002|pp=131–133, 218}}{{sfn|ps=|Seife|2008|pp=154–155}}<ref name="taubes378">{{harvnb|Taubes|1993|pp=378, 427}} ''anomalous effects in deuterated metals,'' which was the new, preferred, politically palatable nom de science for cold fusion [back in October 1989]."</ref>—for reasons that are detailed in the [[#Later research|subsequent research section]] above—but reverted to the old name in 2008.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.iscmns.org/iccf14/ProcICCF14b.pdf |title=Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Condensed Matter Nuclear Science and the 14th International Conference on Cold Fusion (ICCF-14) – 10–15 August 2008 Washington DC |year=2008 |volume=2 |publisher=New Energy Foundation |editor-last1=Nagel |editor-first1=David J. |editor-last2=Melich |editor-first2=Michael E. |isbn=978-0-578-06694-3 |access-date=31 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731065530/http://www.iscmns.org/iccf14/ProcICCF14b.pdf |archive-date=31 July 2012}}</ref> Cold fusion research is often referenced by proponents as "low-energy nuclear reactions", or LENR,<ref name="bbc march 2009" /> but according to sociologist [[Bart Simon]] the "cold fusion" label continues to serve a social function in creating a [[collective identity]] for the field.{{sfn|ps=|Simon|2002|pp=131–133, 218}}

Since 2006, the [[American Physical Society]] (APS) has included cold fusion sessions at their semiannual meetings, clarifying that this does not imply a softening of skepticism.<ref name="aps meeting">{{harvnb|Chubb|McKubre|Krivit|Chubb|2006}}, {{harvnb|Adam|2005}} ("[Absolutely not]. Anyone can deliver a paper. We defend the openness of science"&nbsp;– Bob Park of APS, when asked if hosting the meeting showed a softening of scepticism)</ref>{{sfn|ps=|Van Noorden|2007}} Since 2007, the [[American Chemical Society]] (ACS) meetings also include "invited symposium(s)" on cold fusion.{{sfn|ps=|Van Noorden|2007|loc=para. 2}} An ACS program chair, Gopal Coimbatore, said that without a proper forum the matter would never be discussed and, "with the world facing an energy crisis, it is worth exploring all possibilities."{{sfn|ps=|Van Noorden|2007}}

On 22–25 March 2009, the American Chemical Society meeting included a four-day symposium in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the announcement of cold fusion. Researchers working at the U.S. Navy's [[Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center]] (SPAWAR) reported detection of energetic [[neutrons]] using a heavy water electrolysis setup and a [[CR-39]] detector,<ref name="ACS Press Release" /><ref name="reignites" /> a result previously published in ''[[Naturwissenschaften]]''.{{sfn|ps=|Barras|2009}} The authors claim that these neutrons are indicative of nuclear reactions.<ref name="afp march 2009">{{cite web|mode=cs2 |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j2QobOQnlULUZ7oalSRUVjnlHjng |title=Scientists in possible cold fusion breakthrough |access-date=24 March 2009 |publisher=[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327020127/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j2QobOQnlULUZ7oalSRUVjnlHjng |archive-date=27 March 2009  }}</ref> Without quantitative analysis of the number, energy, and timing of the neutrons and exclusion of other potential sources, this interpretation is unlikely to find acceptance by the wider scientific community.{{sfn|ps=|Barras|2009}}{{sfn|ps=|Berger|2009}}