Talk:Thomas Gold

Russian theory
In the Wiki Petroleum page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum there is a discussion of the Russian theory of the origins of oil with a link to http://www.gasresources.net/ where this alternative theory is discussed with references to original articles in Russia. But this site also contains the page http://www.gasresources.net/toc_Plagiarism.htm which is a discussion about plagiarism by Professor Gold.

The Russians claim, in the page linked by Wiki's petroleum page, that Gold has plagiarized Russian work, the very work that Wiki extolls Gold for contributing

Not tectonic forces
I think it should be noted that Gold did NOT propose that the origins of hydrocarbons were "tectonic forces", as stated in the "Origins of Hydrocarbons" section of this Wiki article, but rather that they are actually primordial (cf: Gold, Thomas; "The Deep Hot Biosphere", Ch.1,2,4,6,7; 1999, Copernicus.) Common astronomical knowledge confirms that every other body in our solar system likely formed from an admixture of hydrocarbons and solids (ex: Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto, etc.), his question being, why not Earth?

Profound insights
"his profound insights" could be less POV. Whether an insight is profound depends not only on the outcome but an individual's perception. Gold also proposed the 'Steady State Universe' which was not profound and has been disproven.208.114.132.151 18:23, 28 July 2006 (UTC)

Paper reviewers
In "Dark Life" by Michael Ray Taylor it is mentioned that Norman Pace, Carl Woese, and one other scientist had approved the PNAS "The Deep Hot Biosphere" article. Just mentioning it in case it becomes relevant to the article. (SEWilco 06:24, 27 November 2006 (UTC))

pre breakfast talk for the Red Queen
It is generally agreed that the sun is cooler than it should be; it is said to be in a cool phase of a cycle. Furthermore, while some of its energy generation is tempered by nuclear fission that resists gravetic compression, the sun is a nuclear power force. However, the reactions are of a reversable nature. Fission from hydrogen to iron releases energy (fusion of heavier elements to iron also release energy. The obvious conclusion is that the great energy concentraion in a star would cause iron to break into lighter elements and hydrogen.

So where then does iron come from: The opposite conditions. As temperatures of deep space fall toward zero Kelvin, matter becomes unstable and elements lighter than iron trend toward becoming iron. Therefore, the stars and the enveloping space are an engine which switch material, turning it to hydrogen in the star and catching iron, gathering hydrogen in space and converting it to iron. This is why the surface of the sun is hydrogen while meteors and planets are essentially iron, either almost pure or embedded with grains of iron.

That's two impossibles. The Red Queen needs three before breakfast.

The earth and other planets gathered cold as iron from outer space has similar processes within them. Under deep pressure and great heat deep within, it converts iron to hydrogen and other light elements. As gravity compacts the earth, these are forced up and out. Clearly petrocarbons are lighter than the solid earth and it makes no sense that they sink into the earth. As unreasonable as that is, the notion that pools of hydrocarbons could exist for a billion years just staggers the immagination. (Not much staggers my immagination.) But, this in any case is my third impossible: the source of natural gas, oil, coal and (for that matter) water.

BW —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.229.163.188 (talk) 20:53, 17 April 2008 (UTC)

204.169.161.1 (talk) 16:25, 17 January 2012 (UTC) Our sun is above the 90th percentile in hot. That 10% is divided evenly between the stellar collapses that produce heavy elements and black holes. The northern solar hemisphere collapse of 2011 showed the nuclear core theory in default. A closer reading of The Deep Hot Biosphere gives information as to how graphite might form in space, what we now know happens. While I agree with T Gold's deep hot biosphere, I feel it is more accurately described through S W Carey's expanded Earth theory. An expanded Earth, after first experiencing compression, then passing out of compression into expansion, would allow the biosphere to be 'refueled' with hydrocarbons. This scenario would fit the 5,000 y myth cycle.

Deep Hot Biosphere
Removed the following as bio/abio quibbling and recent discoveries not directly related to the book, which is the section subject:


 * Most western geologists and petrologists consider petroleum abiogenic theories implausible and believe the biogenic theory of fossil fuel formation adequately explains all observed hydrocarbon deposits. Most geologists do recognize the geologic carbon cycle includes subducted carbon, which returns to the surface, with studies showing the carbon does rise in various ways. Gold and geology experts point out the biogenic theories do not explain phenomena such as helium in oil fields and oil fields associated with deep geologic features.


 * However, recent discoveries have shown that bacteria live at depths far greater than previously believed. Though this does not prove Gold's theory, it may lend support to its arguments.


 * A thermal depolymerization process which converts animal waste to carbon fuels does show some processes can be done without bacterial action, but does not explain details of natural oil deposits such as magnetite production.


 * An article on abiogenic hydrocarbon production in the February 2008 issue of the journal Science reported how the abiotic synthesis of hydrocarbons in nature may occur in the presence of ultramafic rocks, water, and moderate amounts of heat.

Vsmith (talk) 02:07, 1 July 2009 (UTC)

External links modified
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External links modified (January 2018)
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Solar sail theory
The article discreetly avoids mention of Gold's claim (arXiv:physics/0306050), now disproved experimentally (see solar sails), that solar sails cannot work. Should there be reference to it? --Brian Josephson (talk) 19:39, 23 October 2018 (UTC)

Improving the section titles and references overall
Apparently this page originated in a chronological narrative form emphasizing his biography. I largely maintained that page framework, but used level 1 and 2 section titles to make it easy for viewers to see the topics of science that Gold contributed to. I started this editing a couple days ago. I think I have finished everything above the final substantive section that used to be called "Origins of petroleum" but that I retitled "Geobiology work in the USA", and then inserted subsection titles into the existing content that I called "Abiogenic origins of petroleum" and "Deep hot biosphere theory". These are the two aspects of Gold's work that I already know a great deal about, especially the deep hot biosphere. So over the next day or so I will improve these sections, and especially look for references that viewers can easily access the content online. (Right now this page is heavily referencing old books, which is difficult for viewers to be able to quickly confirm facts, learn more, and see additional references as standard for journal publications. Cbarlow (talk) 13:38, 3 June 2024 (UTC)

Rewrote the sections on Abiogenic Petroleum
Yesterday I did a lot of online research looking for and marking up good references. Today I rewrote the sections pertaining to Abiogenic petroleum, including the Siljan drilling section. I attempted to maintain as much of the existing writing and references as I could. There were several places that had a "reference" but it went nowhere — so that material (only a sentence) was deleted. The only substantive material I deleted was several sentences pertaining to alleged plagiarism of Russian science on Gold's part. One reference went to a strange site that had no author. Overall, historically there apparently was some backlash about that, but it didn't carry into the present. Also, this is a biography wiki page and we have to be exceedingly careful about allowing poorly referenced negative opinions in when the person cannot defend himself. NEXT WEEK I WILL WORK ON IMPROVING THE LAST SECTION: on "The Deep Hot Biosphere." Cbarlow (talk) 21:53, 5 June 2024 (UTC)