# Who is Salvatore Pais **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 16, 2019, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-salvatore-pais/841832 "2019-10-16T05:15:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-salvatore-pais/841832/1 "2019-10-16T05:15:11Z")
The US Navy has patented or applied for patents for several unusual things invented by someone named Salvatore Pais. Most recently, a [compact fusion reactor](https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/300067-the-navy-just-patented-a-compact-fusion-reactor-but-will-it-work). Previous [inventions](https://patents.justia.com/inventor/salvatore-cezar-pais) are: High frequency gravitational wave generator Piezoelectricity-induced Room Temperature Superconductor Craft using an inertial mass reduction device The patent for the first in that list was granted, I think the others are still pending. Not sure what the point to the gravitational wave generator is. I mean, what can you do with it? Anyway, this brings up the question of who Salvatore Pais is and why the Navy feels the need to patent these things. I have several ideas about the former: 1. The next Nikola Tesla. (We’ll know for sure if he produces Death Rays of a 99-year-old style.) 2. Nels Bergenholm (We could use some advanced alien intervention right now.) 3. Doc Emmett Brown (Exactly how much power is that fusion reactor going to generate? It wouldn’t by chance be precisely 1.21 GW, would it?) As for why, I’ve seen speculation that it’s to cause our political adversaries to waste resources trying to steal or replicate the non-existent inventions. Could be. Any other thoughts on this guy? ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-salvatore-pais/841832/2 "2019-10-16T05:34:46Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Not sure what the point to the gravitational wave generator is. I mean, what can you do with it? Cancel out gravity by firing back waves of equal amplitude and frequency? ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-salvatore-pais/841832/3 "2019-10-16T05:48:00Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > (Exactly how much power is that fusion reactor going to generate? It wouldn’t by chance be precisely 1.21 GW, would it?) No, it’s 1.21 JW. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-salvatore-pais/841832/4 "2019-10-16T20:36:25Z")
Just who he is seems to be up for debate but the internet is full of speculation. > **[Scientist Behind The Navy's "UFO Patents" Has Now Filed One For A Compact...](https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/30256/scientist-behind-the-navys-ufo-patents-has-now-filed-one-for-a-compact-fusion-reactor)** > > The latest in a series of bizarre Navy patents isn't just for a revolutionary reactor that could power cities, but also potentially a craft. Personally I think he’s a janitor at Bettis Atomic. Place had some serious brains in its day. And don’t forget the blood-sucking monkeys Count Floyd warned us about. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-salvatore-pais/841832/5 "2019-10-16T21:01:27Z")
Which Salvatore Pais are you talking about? Salvatore Pais Junior, the high school dropout who spends all day watching the Syfy Channel? Or Salvatore Pais Senior, who’s an Admiral in charge of naval procurement? ---
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-salvatore-pais/841832/6 "2019-10-17T10:25:41Z")
I work at the European Patent Office as a patent examiner. I had a gander at the fusion reactor patent application, and it reminds me a lot of the “Polywell” design for a fusion reactor, researched for the US Navy by Bussard (he of the “Bussard ramjet” concept). I would not be surprised **at all** if the US Navy decided to send that for a patent. It doesn’t hurt doing so. > **[Polywell](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polywell)** > > The polywell is a proposed design for a fusion reactor using an electric field to heat ions to fusion conditions. > The design is related to the fusor, the high beta fusion reactor, the magnetic mirror, and the biconic cusp. A set of electromagnets generates a magnetic field that traps electrons. This creates a negative voltage, which attracts positive ions. As the ions accelerate towards the negative center, their kinetic energy rises. Ions that collide at high enough energies can fuse. > A Farns...