The Path of Scientific Discovery

I turn 75 next month, and I’ve just published my first book, on atomic energy and life. I discuss these topics separately and, more importantly, the intersection between the two.

When we eat a green plant we are taking in solar energy produced by nuclear fusion reactions in the Sun’s interior—hence the book title, “The Sun Within.” But if I’m right, and I’m pretty sure I am, there are nuclear reactions within us and other living organisms that are somewhat like those found in the Sun and other stars. We are not exactly miniature Suns, but there are similarities and connections.

This has been suggested for millennia. People in ancient India worshipped the Sun as a deity. They tried to link the Sun’s energy with their inner spiritual energy through meditation practices. More recently, scientists have proposed that low-energy nuclear reactions are occurring within the cells in our body, supplementing the energy in the food we eat.

This is far from being accepted by mainstream scientists. You may have heard of“cold fusion.” It burst onto the scientific scene in 1989 but is now largely disregarded. A few scientists continue to study the phenomenon, even finding evidence for it in living organisms, but most think that fusion reactions only take place under conditions of intense heat and pressure.

My book is perhaps the most detailed account to date of how our cells could produce, use, and withstand the immense energy contained within the atom—atomic biophysics.

In exploring the connections between atomic physics and biology I am following in the footsteps of the German scientist and philosopher Alexander von Humboldt. Often considered to be the father of ecology, Humboldt tried to unify diverse branches of science in his extensive treatise “Kosmos.”

According to Bill Bryson in his book “A Short History of Nearly Everything,” Humboldt (rather humorously) described the three stages of scientific discovery:

• Deny that it is true.

• Deny that it is important.

• Credit the wrong person.

How might this work in the case of atomic biophysics?

The theory that energy released through cellular nuclear reactions can supplement food energy goes against established paradigms. It may simply be ignored, despite the availability of experiments, suggested in the book, that could test it. If this happens, the first stage of scientific discovery will never be reached, which would be unfortunate.

An initial step toward success might be that my book attracts enough attention so that scientists feel compelled to publicly reject it, without bothering to do any real research.

This might prompt a brave scientist to obtain evidence that atomic reactions do occur in living systems. The scientific community will dismiss this as a curious but unimportant phenomenon.

Finally, if a very persistent scientist (or a scientific team) convinces the wider community that life taps into atomic energy in significant ways, they will be showered with honours.

This is my hope, anyway. I won’t be around to see it happen, but that’s fine.