Tuesday, June 24, 2008

AGW quake link not all it's cracked up to be

CBC News picks up some loony science:

New research compiled by Australian scientist Dr. Tom Chalko shows that global seismic activity on Earth is now five times more energetic than it was just 20 years ago. The research proves that destructive ability of earthquakes on Earth increases alarmingly fast and that this trend is set to continue, unless the problem of "global warming" is comprehensively and urgently addressed.

Maria Brumm puts it down:

Cursory examination reveals that Dr. Tom Chalko is a complete wackaloon! Even if you do not know the first thing about seismology, consider the warning signs that this "research" may actually be an attractive organic fertilizer:

  • Research article is published in a journal where 5/5 articles in the current issue are authored solely by... Dr. Tom Chalko!
  • Research article cites Wikipedia
  • Research article uses Observable Weird Capitalization for emphasis
  • Associated Press reporter was too lazy to call up any respectable seismologists for a second opinion, and probably did not alter Dr. Tom Chalko, M.sc., Ph.D.'s press release. Which would explain the Observable Weird Capitalization in the news article.

CBS (and any other news outlet that reprints this story) should be ashamed.

They were, observes Tim Lambert. Not The Drudge Report though who, unlike CBS did not pull the story.

Tim's found Chalko's research plan for 2001-2005 (he's a mechanical engineer) at Melbourne University:

If gravity is a special electromagnetic field - why can't we generate
it? If generation of gravity is possible - it should be also possible,
under certain conditions, to overcome gravity.

He wanted five years to develop his theory. He got nothing.

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