This is eerily like the start of Isaac Asimov's "The Gods Themselves," in which a scientist notices small changes in a sealed laboratory sample of metal. Turns out that aliens from a parallel universe are replacing the metal in our universe with radioactive plutonium, creating unlimited free energy for earth. Of course, this being SF, this energy supply also threatens to destroy the entire universe.

Should we be worried? Is Asimov promoting his book from beyond the grave?