With that said, it seems to me that instead of denigrating the lad because HE didn't actually invent what he built, or because he may not fully understand exactly how/why it works, adults (even, or better yet especially the 'physics geniuses' and 'history professors' among us) would want to provide some positive feedback regarding his efforts.
Who knows, such a reaction might encourage him to engage in more serious study of the subject matter so that he can learn for himself why 5,800 small mirrors, even when focused at a single point, do not equal "5,000+ suns" (assuming he actually SAID that, and that he was not simply misquoted by the press).
At any rate, even the most cynical among us should be able to agree that a young man who spends his free time working on "death rays" and other science-related projects in his back yard shed, is most likely NOT going to be out spray painting graffiti on buildings or loitering on street corners listening to 'hip-hop' music with his trousers pulled down around his knees while he waits for his next 'public assistance' check to arrive.
As a kid some of my favorite books were “The mad Scientist club” books. While they were short on technical stuff they were perfect for inspiration of a young boy’s imagination.
>>>During the course of the books, the boys often use technology (such as ham radios) and science to pull off harebrained schemes. For example, in “The Strange Sea Monster of Strawberry Lake,” they build a fake sea monster out of chicken wire mounted to a rowboat, and row it out on Strawberry Lake. When it gets too dangerous to take the boat out on the lake themselves because hunters are preparing to shoot it with an elephant gun, they rig a remote control system to operate it at a distance.<<<
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mad_Scientists%27_Club
Agreed! ...seems like a good kid with an inquisitive mind.
...as long as he doens't tell his little brother, "Hey, Stand right here."