New video: "Is the Voynich Manuscript fake?"

[asteckley]

"Consistent with a medieval origin" means only that they did not find any evidence of a more recent origin. 

That is technically accurate. But then my mechanic's latest diagnostic report on my truck would also be consistent with a medieval origin of the manuscript. 

So if a report is reasonably expected to provide evidence for a claim -- or possibly against it -- but instead provides no evidence that can be relied on in either direction (because, for example, it is found to be demonstrably flawed), is it not misleading to claim that it is "consistent" with any particular theory?

[asteckley]

The issue with the Vinland Map titanium was, as you say, that it was in the modern anatase form.

Let me share what I know of the chemistry involved...

Jorge,
"Magnesium" (the forum user, not the element) has also located a reference where a 15th century manuscript's ink was found to contain Titanium due to its inclusion within crystaline quartz (silicon and oxide): (You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.).

So there IS a potential explanation for the presence of a Titanium in the McCrone results (assuming their analysis shows the presence of sufficient Si (and O) sufficient to indicate quartz crystals).

[Jorge_Stolfi]

So if a report is reasonably expected to provide evidence for a claim -- or possibly against it -- but instead provides no evidence that can be relied on in either direction (because, for example, it is found to be demonstrably flawed), is it not misleading to claim that it is "consistent" with any particular theory?

If they were brutally honest, they would say explicitly that "Our tests on the ink and paint samples we collected did not reveal any substances that were not available to the Ancient Greek.  But, sophisticated as they are, they cannot provide any specific information about when the manuscript was written, nor exclude a modern or ancient forgery."

And "compatible with a medieval origin" is basically a more marketing-friendly way of saying that.

All the best, --stolfi

[asteckley]

And "compatible with a medieval origin" is basically a more marketing-friendly way of saying that.

The key word there is "marketing".  Suitable if you are trying to sell the idea. Not if you are trying to do objective analysis.

[Jorge_Stolfi]

@Magnesium has also located a reference where a 15th century manuscript's ink was found to contain titanium due to the presence of crystalline quartz [with titanium oxide inclusions]

Yes, and I posted another reference to another manuscript with ilmenite (FeTiO3)  in the ink.

But simple iron-gall ink should not contain any titanium, in any form, for the reasons I explained. Those inks were not iron-gall but some other formula with brown-black mineral pigments.

All the best, --stolfi