Is Cold Fusion back?

The answer is a qualified "maybe." If so, this is different from the electrical paladium setup that Ponns and Fleishmann announced back when I was in High School. This time, scientists are trying to take advantage of sonoluminesence - an effect which occurs in some liquids when bubbles form and then implode. These bubble-pops create intense pressures and release heat and light. It is suspected if you mix some dueterium (2-neutrons in a hydrogen atom) that this may provide the conditions for desktop fusion. The results are decidedly mixed, so far. But interesting. It is unlikely your next iPod will be powered by a cold fusion battery, but a future CAT Scan might use it as a source of exotic particles.