PITTSBURGH — A recent discovery by an Erie, PA, man that saltwater can be "ignited" with a radio-frequency generator has sparked interest in scientific communities, including Penn State University.

Rustum Roy, Ph.D., a chemist at the university and a founding member of its Materials Research Institute, is an expert in water structure.

He tested John Kanzius’ finding, that saltwater will “burn” as long as it is exposed to radio frequencies, and found it to hold true, reported the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on September 9.

Roy said the saltwater does not burn, per se, but as it is exposed to the radio frequency, the bond that holds together its key constituents — such as sodium, chlorine, hydrogen and oxygen — weakens. As this happens, hydrogen is released, and once ignited, burns continuously when exposed to the radio frequency field.

The flame’s temperature was measured at 3,000 F, and is considered an enormous energy output, the article said.

Roy called the discovery “the most remarkable in water science in 100 years.”

He was scheduled to meet with US Department of Energy and Department of Defense officials on September 10 to discuss the discovery and seek research funding.

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