Anesteemed physical chemist, Dr. Melvin Miles has long been a cornerstone of Low-Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR) research. Known for his precision and dedication, Miles has spent decades unraveling the complexities of cold fusion, a field that remains on the frontier of nuclear science. From his early days at the China Lake Naval Laboratory to his numerous collaborative projects, Dr. Miles has consistently advanced our understanding of LENR through both experimental rigor and theoretical insight. As he recounts, “I want honest science to be recognized and become part of the real science literature,” underscoring his enduring commitment to scientific integrity and accuracy​.

Miles’ entry into the field of LENR was fortuitous yet transformative. As an accomplished physical chemist at the China Lake Naval Laboratory, his career initially focused on electrochemistry and thermal batteries until 1989, when Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons’ controversial “cold fusion” announcement caught his attention. When he first heard the news, Miles was intrigued by the experiment’s electrochemical aspects, which aligned closely with his own expertise in palladium-hydrogen interactions. Encouraged by his supervisor to conduct preliminary trials, he began his experiments using palladium and deuterium, which quickly immersed him in the emerging LENR field. Recalling this pivotal moment, he explains, “I went in the lab and tried some experiments, very crude. I didn’t know what I was doing, really. But at least it got me started.”

Not long afterward, he met Martin Fleischmann at the second International Conference on Cold Fusion in Como, Italy, in 1990. This meeting sparked a deep intellectual connection that grew into a sixteen-year correspondence, as Fleischmann frequently shared insights, theories, and extensive mathematical derivations with Miles. Miles reflects on their friendship, “I really respected Martin Fleischmann. I got to know him at ICCF-2 in Como, Italy, in 1990, and we stayed in touch through letters for nearly two decades.” For Miles, Fleischmann’s mathematical genius and dedication to understanding the nuances of electrochemistry made him one of the greatest scientists of his generation. "He was a genius," says Miles, "and nobody else has equaled him in modeling the complex equations that describe these reactions.”​

These letters, now archived by LENR historian Jed Rothwell, contain groundbreaking ideas that could not be published due to the prevailing skepticism surrounding LENR. As Miles notes, “He could write a six-page mathematical derivation to answer a single question,” a testament to Fleischmann’s rigorous and thorough approach to science​. Their correspondence was not merely technical but a meeting of minds grounded in mutual respect and a shared commitment to scientific truth. Through this collaboration, Miles found both intellectual stimulation and validation from a scientist he deeply admired, further motivating him to advance LENR research.

Dr. Miles has consistently advanced our understanding of LENR through both experimental rigor and theoretical insight. As he recounts, “I want honest science to be recognized and become part of the real science literature,” underscoring his enduring commitment to scientific integrity and accuracy​.

Among his many contributions, Dr. Miles is best known for his pioneering work with palladium, a metal crucial to LENR research. Through meticulous experimentation, he demonstrated that specific preparations of palladium, when loaded with deuterium, could reliably produce excess heat—a hallmark of nuclear reactions at low energy. Dr. Miles implemented precise calorimetry techniques, often aided by postdoctoral researchers at China Lake to ensure reliability in his results. As he told me, “The excess heat correlated with the helium-4 that we saw in experiments. That was strong evidence that something real is happening related to fusion”​. This correlation between excess heat and helium-4 production remains a critical link in LENR research, suggesting that the phenomenon could be nuclear.

One of Dr. Miles’ central pursuits in LENR has been establishing reproducibility. He emphasizes that “you can’t go to commercial uses of cold fusion if you can’t reproduce it. You need an experiment that you’re sure will work every time”​. For Miles, achieving this standard rests mainly on the preparation of palladium. He explained that oxygen impurities in palladium inhibit excess heat production and believes that only palladium refined to specific purity levels, like that sourced from Johnson Matthey, can consistently yield positive results.

One of Dr. Miles’ central pursuits in LENR has been establishing reproducibility. He emphasizes that “you can’t go to commercial uses of cold fusion if you can’t reproduce it. You need an experiment that you’re sure will work every time”​. For Miles, achieving this standard rests mainly on the preparation of palladium... [which] can consistently yield positive results.

Over the years, Dr. Miles refined his approach, concluding that reducing oxygen contamination in palladium was crucial for LENR’s success. He points to the methods employed at Johnson Matthey, where palladium is melted under a hydrogen atmosphere, removing oxygen impurities. “The first six months, I had no excess heat,” he explains, “but the Johnson Matthey palladium immediately gave excess heat because it was oxygen-free.”​ His work thus underscores the importance of material preparation, a nuanced but essential detail often overlooked by newer researchers, as Miles observes.
Despite his meticulous methods, Dr. Miles faced profound challenges. At a time when LENR was widely dismissed, even derided, he encountered institutional and professional obstacles that often made his research an uphill battle. The US Department of Energy and other scientific bodies were highly skeptical of cold fusion, deeming it incompatible with established nuclear theories. Reflecting on this resistance, he notes, “I understand why people didn’t accept it… Cold fusion came out as a direct challenge to the hot fusion programs in the United States. They did a very effective job convincing people that we were making a mistake”.”

Miles persisted in this line of inquiry, and he experienced pushback as a result; his support within the Navy waned, and he eventually lost funding due to the relentless critiques from both within and outside the field. "I was even told by my manager I could not do any more cold fusion research because of the critics,” he recounts, describing how the controversy surrounding LENR research diminished his status and isolated him professionally. Yet, in the face of skepticism and career setbacks, Dr. Miles continued his work, driven by his commitment to scientific truth and respect for colleagues like Martin Fleischmann, whom he admired greatly. “I believed in the work he did,” he says of Fleischmann, “and I want the people who made cold fusion and reported their research to get credit that they are correct eventually.

At a time when LENR was widely dismissed, he encountered institutional and professional obstacles that often made his research an uphill battle.

 "Cold fusion came out as a direct challenge to the hot fusion programs in the United States. They [The US Department of Energy] did a very effective job convincing people that we were making a mistake”.”

Dr. Miles remains cautiously optimistic about LENR’s future, aware that its potential to disrupt existing energy paradigms could generate both scientific and political obstacles. “If LENR can become commercially viable, the fossil fuel industry… will be upset that we’re taking their share,” he reflects, acknowledging the economic forces that may resist LENR development​. Nonetheless, he sees promise in international efforts, particularly in Japan and Europe, where LENR projects actively explore commercial applications.

Despite his hope, Miles echoes the concerns of his mentor, Martin Fleischmann, regarding LENR’s possible misuse. Fleischmann had worried about cold fusion’s weaponization potential, warning that a “cubic centimeter of palladium loaded with deuterium could produce an explosion equivalent to 31 tons of TNT.” Miles shares this concern, noting that the technology’s potential energy density could indeed be dangerous if misapplied​. For this reason, he believes LENR research must remain responsibly managed, ideally within institutions that prioritize safe and peaceful applications.

As the field of LENR gradually gains traction, Dr. Miles hopes for a new generation of researchers who, unhindered by past biases, may approach LENR with open minds. "Maybe the younger generation will look at this differently," he says, hopeful that with renewed interest and adequate funding, LENR could reach its potential as a clean energy source​. Miles highlights Poland’s progress in screening electrons to minimize electrostatic barriers in fusion processes, a promising avenue in cold fusion research​.

Yet, he insists that much more could be achieved if the field received a fraction of the funding directed toward hot fusion. “Just give us 10% of what the hot fusion program is getting,” he urges, envisioning how even modest funding increases could propel LENR forward​.

Melvin Miles’ legacy in LENR is a testament to both scientific courage and resilience. Over a career that spanned numerous discoveries and obstacles, he has contributed significantly to a field that still grapples with mainstream acceptance. His meticulous, methodical, and honest experimentation continues to inspire those seeking a future in clean nuclear energy. Reflecting on his journey, Dr. Miles emphasizes a simple but profound goal: good science should be known, appreciated, and implemented.

Dr. Miles has become a pillar of the field through his relentless dedication, integrity, and high-quality work,. His work has laid a foundation that may one day support practical, safe, and widely available LENR applications. Scientific progress often demands resilience, Dr. Miles reminds us, and the pursuit of honest science is always worthwhile.

[Dr. Melvins] insists that much more could be achieved if the field received a fraction of the funding directed toward hot fusion. “Just give us 10% of what the hot fusion program is getting,” he urges, envisioning how even modest funding increases could propel LENR forward​.