The structural integrity of steel can be compromised by hydrogen atoms that are able to diffuse through the lattice. The steel then snaps suddenly, while it is operating well within its supposed elastic limits. There exist explanations.
These theories are assessed here in the context of Karl Popper's criterion of falsifiability, where philosophical failure is avoided by testing whether the science can make predictions that risk being disproven by a counter-example.
H. K. D. H. Bhadeshia, Advanced Engineering Materials (2026) e202503067.
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Published 2021