cold fusion n.

nuclear fusion taking place at temperature lower than ordinarily required, spec. at or near room temperature

Science

  • 1956 Chicago Tribune 29 Dec. 3

    Known as ‘cold fusion’ and still only a laboratory phenomenon, the new process requires neither uranium nor the million degrees of heat used in the other two atomic principles.

  • 1957 T. Sturgeon Pod in Barrier in Galaxy Science Fiction Sept. 17/1 Theodore Sturgeon bibliography

    Knowledge—the knowledge that put cold-fusion power plants on all the Earth planets, in all the factories.

  • 1993 A. C. Clarke Hammer of God 87 Arthur C. Clarke

    The first was the so-called ‘Cold fusion’ revolution, which brought about the sudden end of the Fossil Fuel Age and destroyed the economic base of the Muslim world for almost a generation…

  • 2018 C. Edge Infinite Lives of Maisie Day 14 Christopher Edge bibliography

    I quickly explained that the kind of nuclear reactor I was planning to build was completely different. Cold fusion does what it says on the tin. Nuclear reactions at room temperature, not even hot enough to melt the butter in Dad’s frying pan. No radioactive waste, no chance of explosions. All the energy you need—totally safe and clean.


Research requirements

antedating 1956

Research History
Mike Christie submitted a 1957 cite from Theodore Sturgeon's "The Pod and the Barrier".
Ben Ostrowsky submitted a 2018 cite from Christopher Edge.
Earliest cite in OED2: 1982. Earliest cite in OED3: 1956

Last modified 2021-02-02 00:03:29
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.