Update on Steorn's Orbo boondoggle

We've got an update for all those who tuned in yesterday at 6pm London and then again at 6pm New York only to not view the "proof" of Steorn's "free energy" machine. This morning, Steorn is carrying the following announcement on their home page:

"We are experiencing some technical difficulties with the demo unit in London. Our initial assessment indicates that this is probably due to the intense heat from the camera lighting. We have commenced a technical assessment and will provide an update later today. As a consequence, Kinetica will not be open to the public today (5th July). We apologise for this delay and appreciate your patience."

Yeah, whatever. Still, like a car crash we just can't turn away no matter how wrong we know it to be.

Update: You can watch their shysters engineers on cam number 3. That's the device in the glass cube above! However, unlike camera 3, the Orbo prototype is not working. Thanks, Dan.

Update 2: The other cameras now appear to be live (or looping anyway). That's a close up of the device which is still not moving. Hell, we're not even sure if it's the "free energy" powered device or just a stand-in. After all, it was supposed to be lifting a weight, remember?

[Thanks, Daniel H.]

[Rohit Kapur @ Jul 5th 2007 6:07AM]

Gasp! They couldn't display it!

Shocking!

[luke @ Jul 5th 2007 8:29AM]

And Camera 3 is a loop! We've been duped!

[Prasand J. @ Jul 5th 2007 9:26AM]

Is it me ... or does the cat in camera 3 look like he doesn't know wtf he's looking for?

[Simon @ Jul 5th 2007 11:58AM]

Such a surprise *rolls eyes*

established laws of physics FTW!

[raulhurtado @ Jul 5th 2007 3:32PM]

If you want an update of what you

[GuyJ86 @ Jul 5th 2007 6:07AM]

In other news, the local rspca is looking into claims that a local art exhibition is using live hamsters as display. As a result of overheating the entire hamster population has died, more on this story as it develops.

[ug @ Jul 5th 2007 6:20AM]

So predictable.

[Xavier Gill @ Jul 5th 2007 9:43AM]

Yesterday he said the demo would be lifting a weight, and now it looks like it will be turning a polycarbonate wheel.

Inconcistancies + delay = major scepticism

[Xavier Gill @ Jul 5th 2007 9:42AM]

Yesterday he said the demo would be lifting a weight, and now it looks like it will be turning a polycarbonate wheel.

Inconcistancies + delay = major scepticism

[Swami @ Jul 5th 2007 6:24AM]

Its 3:52 PM (IST)
The Steorn site says, watch us live from 4 different camera angles..
But no Video :(

Steor Play is paused :)

Swami

[Bad Beaver @ Jul 5th 2007 6:25AM]

Oh, and maybe they also change their virtual display to something that does not require some WMA plugin while they're at it.

[Bob @ Jul 5th 2007 6:26AM]

You all have never done a presentation for work and have some kind of tech difficulty? Give them a chance to present before you judge their project.

Isn't that what everyone said about the iphone before it was released? Don't knock it till you have tried it hands on at an AT&T or Apple store.

[tcp277 @ Jul 5th 2007 6:32AM]

"I heard the jury's still out on... science."

Man, I miss that show.

[Cpt.Scarecrow @ Jul 5th 2007 6:34AM]

The difference being that the iPhone is just a gadget and not some world changing devise (although some people think it is) that defies the basic principles of science...

As much as I would love to see that they can live up to there words, I seriously doubt it.

[lassi @ Jul 5th 2007 7:59AM]

iphone wasn't technically infeasible(quite the opposite, off the shelf tech for it was available 4 years ago).

if someone was claiming that iphone could do 1000mbit/s over edge. that would be about on the same level.

sure, it's customary to give the benefit of doubt... to plausable sounding claims.

[tekdroid @ Jul 5th 2007 8:57AM]

The difference being that the iPhone is just a gadget and not some world changing devise (although some people think it is) that defies the basic principles of science...
----------------
$85.95 for a new battery defies *something*
http://www.apple.com/support/iphone/service/battery/

;)

[Jeff @ Jul 5th 2007 10:49AM]

"You all have never done a presentation for work and have some kind of tech difficulty? Give them a chance to present before you judge their project."

I think someone needs to brush up on their laws of physics.

The reason we're all so skeptical is because "free energy" is impossible. If it were possible, the universe as we know it would literally cease to exist. The reason the universe can exist in stable form is that energy remains constant; nothing is ever created or destroyed.

Nobody ever looked at the iPhone and said it was impossible because its existence defied the laws of physics and would eventually destroy the universe. It's not the same thing.

[Jeff @ Jul 5th 2007 10:49AM]

"You all have never done a presentation for work and have some kind of tech difficulty? Give them a chance to present before you judge their project."

I think someone needs to brush up on their laws of physics.

The reason we're all so skeptical is because "free energy" is impossible. If it were possible, the universe as we know it would literally cease to exist. The reason the universe can exist in stable form is that energy remains constant; nothing is ever created or destroyed.

Nobody ever looked at the iPhone and said it was impossible because its existence defied the laws of physics and would eventually destroy the universe. It's not the same thing.

[Bob @ Jul 5th 2007 3:24PM]

I am clear on my laws of physics, being that I am a senior civil engineering student at VT. But, I don't know a who lot about this particular device, I do seem to remember seeing it on here a while back. (Most of my nerd time on the internet is spent studying concrete mix design) But, I am willing to at least see their presentation.

I am not one to knock anything before I have at least listened to someone. I believe people thought the world was flat for quite some time and that the sun revolved around earth. (I know, I know that was religious leadership and but they were the scientist of their time.)

[ck @ Jul 5th 2007 6:27AM]

lollercaust.gif

[Ohmaar @ Jul 6th 2007 3:17PM]

"The reason we're all so skeptical is because 'free energy' is impossible. If it were possible, the universe as we know it would literally cease to exist."

Hmmm, good point. BTW, has anyone seen my dolphin?

[David Clark @ Jul 5th 2007 5:25PM]

Arrested Development!!! HA! There are other fans out there. Funny, "Arrested Development" is a fitting title for this little dilemma.

[GuyJ86 @ Jul 5th 2007 6:36AM]

Coincidence:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6272752.stm

[tchiseen @ Jul 5th 2007 6:41AM]

How revolutionary, a device that produces free power, as long as there's no lighting around.

[Simon @ Jul 5th 2007 8:22PM]

Obviously, due to the quantum nature of the device, it can't be observed and operate at the same time...

[Paris K @ Jul 5th 2007 7:00AM]

why don't they use infrared lighting?

[Jordy @ Jul 5th 2007 7:16AM]

http://www.astream.com/live/steorn/camera3.html - this feed is a bit different from Well other show some people in steon t-shirt discussing something
http://www.astream.com/live/steorn/camera4.html shows the stand with empty plastic box!

[tekdemon @ Jul 5th 2007 7:19AM]

Heh, it's so revolutionary they can't turn off a few lights and show us anyway. Nice. Or maybe it only works in pitch black, and thus can never actually be seen working. Ever.

But it's OK, because I've myself invented awesome technology that can't be seen! You see, I've invented special invisible werewolf repelling forcefields and put them all over the world. Why do you think there hasn't been a werewolf attack in years? Oh, my machines also work as cloaking devices for Bigfoot, which is why you can't actually find Bigfoot but you can see his footprints. Sorry, but Bigfoot contributed a lot of the physical law-breaking technology behind my invisible werewolf fields so it was the least I could do to keep him from being disturbed.

[Zut @ Jul 5th 2007 7:30AM]

HAHAHA! I'll take three!

This is obviously some kind of scam. They trick idiot investors into handing over huge wads of cash, and then skip the country while the demo is 'warming up'.

This kind of thing comes along every few years, and every time these morons become a laughing stock when their piece of crap inventions are revealed.

Scientific revolutions just don't happen like this. The truth is far slower, more considered, and more boring!! Just look at fusion power.

[Mike @ Jul 5th 2007 10:55AM]

This contraption obviously works by harnessing zero-point energy, by taking advantage of the loopholes in thermodynamics offered by the quantum uncertainty principle. As an unforunate result, looking at the machine, or observing/measuring it or its output in any way, collapses the quantum waveform and it can no longer operate. Such a "schrodinger device" would appear to have limited usefulness, but this is not so. Put in a sealed container, along with the equipment it is to power, it will generate (and also NOT generate, as a result of quantum duality) for all eternity, on condition it has absolutely no connection to the ouside world.


This troll just ate, thanks.

[Joshua @ Jul 6th 2007 6:46AM]

"They trick idiot investors into handing over huge wads of cash, and then skip the country while the demo is 'warming up'."

The thing is already warm thats the problem. lol

[Glenn @ Jul 5th 2007 7:41AM]

Shopping list:
1) teleporter... check!
2) time machine... check!
3) perpetual energy device... check!

Beam me up, Scotty!

(The only thing funnier would be the device actually working.)

[jim @ Jul 5th 2007 8:03AM]

this should not be that funny, but i just can't stop laughing.

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 5th 2007 7:43AM]

Heisenberg, yoou bastarrrrrd!

I TOLD YOU NOT TO LOOK!

[Tom @ Jul 5th 2007 10:25AM]

Ugh, I feel like I'm missing something deeply and terribly funny here. Can anybody let me in on the secret? Please?

[Mike @ Jul 5th 2007 11:13AM]

Tom
Its a quantum physics joke (yes, I know). the hiesenburg uncertainty principle. Basically, simply observing an experiment affects it outcome, in this case, the Steorn Magical Free Lunch Dispenser got an unfalsifiable case of stage-fright.

[Tom @ Jul 5th 2007 3:17PM]

Thanks Mike =D

[blackfeather @ Jul 5th 2007 4:21PM]

LOL - of all the comments - that made me crack up!

it's the old collapse of the wave function problem. The moment you look at it, you've eliminated the other possibilities. I wonder if the cat on camera was Schrödinger's...

[Chris @ Jul 5th 2007 7:45AM]

you'd think they would have tested in light, heat, cold, wet, dry....
so it either doesn't work, or is mostly impractical. if it has to use its "free" energy to maintain an ideal working environment, how much would be left to actually power something else?

[Logik @ Jul 5th 2007 8:05AM]

WTH is "Steorn"? How do you pronounce it?

Is it:

Stee-orn?
Stay-orn?
Sti-orn?

[Eric @ Jul 5th 2007 8:33AM]

I think it's pronounced "gotchaaaa"

[Eric @ Jul 5th 2007 8:32AM]

I think it's pronounced "gotchaaaa"

[lysdexia @ Jul 6th 2007 11:54PM]

Störn

[reticulate @ Jul 5th 2007 8:23AM]

Nothing to see here folks. Move along.

[linvincible @ Jul 5th 2007 8:40AM]

Cam 4 working as well for me, and different setup to see between the two cams!
Not same place, not same guys...
What are those videos?

[linvincible @ Jul 5th 2007 8:41AM]

cam 3 and cam 4 seem to give footage from different times!
http://homepage.hispeed.ch/EnglandsLegends/weird/steorn3.jpg
http://homepage.hispeed.ch/EnglandsLegends/weird/steorn4.jpg
Recorded?

[Blake @ Jul 5th 2007 12:48PM]

No, bad internet connection.

[Todd @ Jul 5th 2007 8:43AM]

Reminds me of the Monorail Salesman from that Simpsons episode ( voice by Phil Hartman ). The straw hat, the circus midway pitch...

"...Step right up ladies and gentlemen, get your physics defying perpetual motion machine right here, three tries for a dollar!"

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 5th 2007 8:59AM]

-Is there a chance this thing will blend?
You bet your life my retard friend!

-I welcome our free energy overlords!
I wish you folks would jump on swords!

-but what about the iPhone man?
I'd like to kick you in the can!

-My device is still all botched and broken!
Sorry, dude the laws of thermodynamics have spoken!

MONORAIL, MONORAIL, MONORAIL!


(mono-DOH!)

[Rohit Kapur @ Jul 5th 2007 8:51AM]

. . . So where's the hamster?