Purdue panel finds misconduct by fusion scientist

— A Purdue University panel has found two instances of misconduct by a researcher who claims he produced nuclear fusion in tabletop experiments. The committee, which includes representatives from other schools, said Rusi Taleyarkhan falsely claimed independent confirmation of the work published in the journal Science in 2002. The committee also found that Taleyarkhan added another person as an author even though the person did not substantially contribute. Two researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee — where Taleyarkhan worked at the time — published dissenting research in the same issue of the journal saying the bubble fusion work was inaccurate. Other scientists, including some at Purdue, where Taleyarkhan now works, have tried without success to independently reproduce his results. The Associated Press... [read full story]