Yet another perpetual motion machine fails to prove anything

We want to believe, we really do, but these failed attempts and poorly-lit basement videos aren't exactly confidence inducing. Nevertheless, Thane Heins' Perepiteia generator has reportedly made its way down to a number of universities and labs across America, and while some onlookers did admit that "it works," none have been able to support any underlying theories. No need to keep dashing your dreams -- click on through for one more mind-numbing video of something akin to (but sadly, not) "perpetual motion."

[Thanks, Mihir]

[Johan S @ Feb 5th 2008 8:04PM]

If perpetual motion machines are impossible, how come the perpetual motion crackpot ideas keep coming round every six months perpetually.

[Colin B @ Feb 5th 2008 8:09PM]

Well...the fact that they are "impossible" is exactly the answer to your question. IF someone were to achieve the impossible, don't you think their reward would be pretty significant? Thus, it's an easy way for mediocre scientists to take a shot at glory.

Sometimes, people need to put a little more thought into their comments...it would be much appreciated.

[Tom Oliveri @ Feb 5th 2008 8:10PM]

never say never!

[thethirdmoose @ Feb 5th 2008 8:50PM]

never.
There. I said it.

[BIGENS @ Feb 5th 2008 8:56PM]

its not impossible its implausable, if cold fusion theory works then its possible to create perpetual motion machines, but by making a perpetual motion machine it would require pyshics to be broken or at least re written, as pointed out in futurama you cant tarvel faster than light, so scientists increased the speed of light, just like time travel or instant galaxy to galaxy, quatum pyshics shows us that these are indeed possible just that calculation and energy required is silly,

[Backlin @ Feb 5th 2008 9:03PM]

@BIGENS: Just because cartoon characters can rewrite physics doesn't mean we can.

As long as there's friction and air resistance, there's no perpetual motion.

[Abuzar @ Feb 5th 2008 9:42PM]

Kinda off topic, but can we make GED(gas Exchange Devices, they convert carbon-dioxide into O2 and C) like in RAMA? They would certainly help out the global warming problem.

[DownwardMonkey @ Feb 5th 2008 10:15PM]

Way to miss his point a little there Backlin.

[madgamer @ Feb 5th 2008 10:33PM]

@abuzar, thats basically what plants do: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photosynthesis

[max andrews @ Feb 6th 2008 1:26AM]

@ abuzar
I was wondering about this too, but apparently scientists have tried making a compound more effective than gas exchange than those used photosynthesis, and have been unable to do so. Billions of years of evolution yield finely tuned machines :)

[DrXym @ Feb 6th 2008 2:57AM]

Perpetual motion crackpot ideas keep coming around because the world is full of crackpots. And in some cases unscrupulous crackpots who use their device to attract "investors" (i.e. rubes) with such claims.

[mrblack @ Feb 6th 2008 10:23AM]

First of all, Johan S's comment was clearly a joke, but then on a more serious note, perpetual motion as we know it is definitely NOT impossible, it's just beyond our current understanding of physics.

Anyone who thinks our current set of physical laws and equations is complete and perfect is way more of a crackpot than any of these basement scientists. We're still very early in our civilization's development, we still have much to learn and much to discover.

[Funkula @ Feb 8th 2008 12:59PM]

FYI, Cold Fusion doesnt work. It never has, and no physicist with a degree would ever claim that it could. Cold Fusion is impossible. Wouldnt you think the stars would already be running in cold fusion if it were too?

[Tyler @ Feb 5th 2008 8:06PM]

The first rule of Thermodynamics is You do NOT Talk about Thermodynamics!

[Will @ Feb 5th 2008 8:35PM]

The fifth rule of thermodynamics is one thermodynamics at a time.

[Jason @ Feb 5th 2008 8:39PM]

That's actually the fourth rule. Five is no shoes, no shirts in the thermodynamics.

[ThePengwin @ Feb 5th 2008 8:47PM]

LISA! In this house we obey the laws of thermodynamics!

[Fr09 @ Feb 6th 2008 12:31AM]

the 2nd rule to!

[Brandon @ Feb 6th 2008 12:11AM]

I made a perpetual motion machine once, but it only worked in Atlantis...if Ameila Earhart spat on it during a full moon.

[Jack @ Feb 6th 2008 8:11AM]

the third rule of thermodynamics is no smoking

[James @ Feb 5th 2008 8:08PM]

now if we could only harness gravity...

[Tom Oliveri @ Feb 5th 2008 8:15PM]

we can harness gravity, we do every day...
it helps us get rid of self-pitying people

[CaliforniaKid @ Feb 5th 2008 9:52PM]

Last I heard, science can't explain how gravity works. Is that still true?

[morcheeba @ Feb 5th 2008 10:14PM]

CK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity#General_relativity

[Alexander @ Feb 5th 2008 10:28PM]

@californiakid: Gravity is a law. You obey laws even if you don't understand them.

Capishe?

[Superprime @ Feb 6th 2008 5:06AM]

We know the "HOW" in gravity. We do not know the "WHY"

[Chris @ Feb 6th 2008 12:25PM]

Um-mm we do harness gravity. It's called orbiting satellites.

[shawn @ Feb 6th 2008 1:30PM]

We do harness gravity: Hydro-power.

[Joseph @ Feb 5th 2008 8:09PM]

I made a perpetual motion machine, but if you look at it, it stops working.

[fischju @ Feb 5th 2008 8:10PM]

I can easily become invisible unless somebody is looking at me


Oh, Mystery Men, you were so good but so bad....

[Mike10010100 @ Feb 5th 2008 10:36PM]

My cat is both alive and dead at the same time! See? Come look!

Kitty? Kitty? Oh, God! You killed it!!!

[karts41 @ Feb 5th 2008 11:40PM]

I had a perpetual motion device, but the bird drank all the water

[BerNasty @ Feb 7th 2008 2:08PM]

Ha, that was funny!

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Feb 5th 2008 8:10PM]

I have a perpetual motion machine but if I let it run for more than 3 minutes the exponential power of it could very well rip a tear in the space time continuum and place me either in the past or a black hole. I'd show ya a video but my basement has no lights. I see by the glow of the universe.

[cromas @ Feb 6th 2008 4:46AM]

1955 is not such a bad year to end up in.

[jbhitter24 @ Feb 5th 2008 8:11PM]

omgosh i have the same multimeter! i'm famous!

[Alexander @ Feb 5th 2008 10:27PM]

That, or you both buy 2nd rate DMM's. :P

[Dan @ Feb 5th 2008 10:33PM]

BURN!!!

oh wait no its not

[Cris.. @ Feb 5th 2008 8:14PM]

i hope the laws of thermodynamics change now!! (whih i doubt)

[Modano @ Feb 5th 2008 8:17PM]

Fascinating. It may not end up being what it seems but I hope we can learn something in the face of ridicule and disbelief.

[Abuzar @ Feb 5th 2008 8:35PM]

I voted you down because your comment was one of the only serious ones. Come on lighten up, we know perpetual motion is impossible except in theory.

[Mike @ Feb 5th 2008 8:37PM]

I can lift myself in the air by pulling on my bootstraps really hard. It may not end up being what it seems but the ridicule and disbelief are just not fair!

[Modano @ Feb 5th 2008 9:07PM]

Fair enough. I certainly don't believe it's a perpetual motion machine under the laws of physics as we understand them. It's just that *whatever* this thing is doing is being demonstrated all over to reputable scientists and nobody can explain it. Just seems like this is the time for investigation not (yet) mockery.

[imec @ Feb 5th 2008 8:29PM]

You guys need to lay off, it's usually "crackpot" ideas that turn out to vastly reduce energy consumption and benefit mankind.

[Mike @ Feb 5th 2008 8:41PM]

Actually, no. Most crackpot ideas usually remain crackpot ideas and don't benefit anyone. Most inventions are based on solid, known science.

[thethirdmoose @ Feb 5th 2008 8:53PM]

Yea... aside from the fact that if this worked, the universe wouldn't, ya know, exist...

[sully @ Feb 6th 2008 10:50AM]

The idea of some sort of "AHA!" moment in invention is just and outright false myth. It can happen very very rarily. But look at all your favorite inventions they are products of a long line of a lot of very hard work based on previous experiences with a specific vision in mind.

I can almost guarantee you that the next big breakthrough in energy production will be something coming out of either a university or an oil company.

[HOOPER @ Feb 17th 2008 6:07PM]

@ thethirdmoose:
Well, if the universe didn't exist, then I suppose that would solve the energy crisis...

[Modano @ Feb 5th 2008 9:07PM]

Fair enough. I certainly don't believe it's a perpetual motion machine under the laws of physics as we understand them. It's just that *whatever* this thing is doing is being demonstrated all over to reputable scientists and nobody can explain it. Just seems like this is the time for investigation not (yet) mockery.

[Wolfticket @ Feb 5th 2008 8:47PM]

Hey, it's another noisy spinning magnetic thing. But the question is, will this one be the solution to the impending energy crisis?
Or maybe we should try hooking the national grid to the numerous pioneering physicians currently spinning in their graves.