Introduction
Cold fusion (CF) was announced on March 23, 1989, by Dr. Martin Fleischmann and Dr. Stanley Pons. The immense potential energy benefits of CF (also referred to as Low Energy Nuclear Reactions, LENR) were immediately recognized. Humankind’s need for a source of cheap, clean, inexhaustible, and safe energy seemed to be permanently satisfied. However, LENR was rejected by mainstream science within a year or so, and it remains highly marginalized to this day. On the other hand, the phenomenon has continued to be rigorously pursued by many investigators in several countries. The mounting evidence for the reality of LENR shows that its potential benefits may yet be realized.
Because it is a “pariah” science, LENR has attracted relatively few new investigators to the field. Many of the researchers became active in the early months and years after the 1989 announcement. Now 36 years later many of these investigators are leaving the field for retirement or health reasons. The results of their many years of LENR investigation are at risk of being lost, which would be extremely unfortunate not only for the field, but also potentially for humanity.
An initiative is underway by Dr. Thomas Grimshaw’s LENRGY LLC to mitigate the risk of loss of research records of LENR investigators. Its objectives are to collect, organize, document, and archive these records. The LENR Research Documentation Initiative (LRDI) helps ensure that records are preserved and keeps the records available for additional analysis and interpretation in the future. The LRDI is described in an article in Infinite Energy and on a dedicated website.