Hi all,
Here are some things that came up in my most recent conversation with Dr. Jim Millette, who is already well along in his study of the WTC dust:
1.) His intention is to replicate the tests done in the Bentham study. In addition, he will employ environmental forensic science tests. The Bentham paper does not report on having done a normal envirnmental forensic study of the components so Dr. Millette will do that, plus everything they did, plus other tests as needed. He has already looked at 40 particles, a few of which have have the properties described in the Bentham paper, and he is confirming a match. He used magnets to pull out the chips, both to follow Harrit et al's protocol and to make it easy to separate out. He will be using transmission eletrocmicroscopy among other things.
2.) He will look for evidence not only of unignited thermitic materials but for unignited nanothermitic materials, using some of the same protocols as used in the Bentham paper.
3.) He will write up a protocol in more detail.
4.) He guesses we will have preliminary information around 15th February. The full report will take several months.
5.) He is looking for a laclede paint primer sample for Oystein. He may have something in his collection.
6.) He is also looking to see if anyone has documented all the red paints in WTC. Others he works with may know.
7.) Several times he said, "what do we have?" We can't have answers until we know what we have. Don't jump the gun; let me do my work and we'll see what I find, he was saying.
8.) He is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and works with internationally know micorscopy experts. These experts, as well as architects and engineers, are contributing their expertise to this study.
9.) The basis of science is to do research and have someone reproduce that research, which he will do with the Harrit paper. He will be following what Niels Harrit et al says he believes these chips have.
10.) His final report will definitely report carefully on the chain of custody.
11.) As I thought, the EPA report he coauthored re health hazards he found in the dust focused on the dangerous chemicals. He remembers seeing small spheres of iron (and reported on large quantities of iron) but the shape of the iron dust pieces was not the focus of the study. He understands that this is being treated as evidence of thermitics in the Bentham paper so he will deal with it in his report.
12.) In certain high-stakes court cases he has worked on, there has been videotaping of everything he has done. The cost of that is thousands of dollars, maybe tens of thousands. Anyone want to pay for this? He's willing but not unless all costs are covered in advance.
13.) Several people have said that if he discovers thermitic materials, he will never admit to it because this would destroy his career. He said he is not worried about that at all. He is an independent scientist, and "If I find it I'll publish it." And if he finds no evidence for active thermitic material, then he will conduct the necessary tests to determine what the red-gray chips most likely are.
I have asked him everything people have asked me to ask, unless I forgot something.
Chris
(Some photographic documentation is of course welcome)
