Eight-year-old physics genius enters university

Korea Herald ^ | 2005-11-05 | Hwang Si-young

[HiTech RedNeck]

He seems to believe that he could generate a repulsion force by manipulating superstrings. IMHO he's trying to do something that's fundamentally beyond the reach of physics.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Oh, and I wonder what his anti gravity field would do to any matter between the vehicle and the earth. There might be some interesting side effects (cf. Isaac Asimov's "The Billiard Ball")

[The_Media_never_lie]

Wow, great post!

[P-Marlowe]

"Childhood" never existed except in parts of the First World in the latter 20th Century. It is a novel concept.

Then the kid needs to spend some time as a chimney sweep apprentice before traipsing off to college.

[Fido969]

Statistics do not really lie...

Figures don't lie - but liars figure.

[sine_nomine]

Thanks for your work with the gifted. You are entirely right. I know a child who was way ahead of his peers in learning all the way through school. He finally found an area where his gifts were rewarded. He is very happy and an astonishing achiever. There are not enough like you who recognize and appreciate this.

The problem is that students and teachers are jealous of those who can absorb vast amounts of information with relative ease.

[JRandomFreeper]

Very few people are able to socialize well with intellectual inferiors. It's extremely frustating for everyone involved.

I have to disagree. While no child prodigy, I did learn to read at age 4, currently read about 2K words/min with 95% comprehension, don't own a television, and have read books about the original Constitutional Convention, the 5th Marines, the use of subs during the Philippines campaign of WWII, large chunks of Escoffier, and Plato's Republic in the last few days, along with a regular reserve job.

I get along great with those less educated and able. I have to, they are my airmen and leadership.

I read web synopsis of everything that each is interested in, so we have chit-chat, and toss in a few of the things that I care about.

You don't have to be smart to be good, and you don't have to be good to be smart, but good AND smart is a great combination.

I'm grateful for a mom that taught me to read early, a dad the put me in private school, and teachers that let me reach my limits. I'm also grateful for a USAF that taught me some manners and management skills.

/john

[Mind-numbed Robot]

In March this year, he went to an elementary school but after a few days said he didn't feel suited to the school system.

I felt the same way, but my parents stifled my creativity and forced me to go through he whole 12 year thing.

Twelve years of elementary school?? I got out in nine. I must have been a prodigy myself.

Dang it all, that was before the female teachers were hitting on the kids. They would have been safe with me. I wasn't a minor.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

This had me scratching my head. Isn't looking at animals for several hours exactly what children are expected to do at the zoo?

I took my three year old Grandson to the zoo recently. I rented one of those large strollers for when he got tired as the zoo was a large one. He spent most of the time racing around pushing the stroller. Getting his attention focused on the animals was just a momentary distraction. I am sure he was concentrating on string theory while racing around.

[Melas]

I guess there is no accounting for individual variance. I become extremely frustrated with individuals who aren't my intellectual equals. When I'm unable to convey a thought, or when I find myself searching in vain for words that they're understand, I'm just banging my own head againt the wall. I can't count the women I only took around the block once because I couldn't bare another discussion with them.

[lawgirl]

The interview was conducted mainly with the senior Song since Yoo-geun is lacking in his ability to communicate with adults.

How does this work?

[sourcery]

How does this work? My interpretation is that Yoo-geun is shy around adults he doesn't know, and so would say little or nothing when questioned by a reporter.

[Onelifetogive]

Did they ask him yet about how often he thinks about touching his private parts?

Uh....It wasn't an American University...

[Onelifetogive]

I've always held that there are 3 kinds of people in this world - those that can do math and those that can't.

I thought there were 10 kinds of people...those who understand binary, and those who don't.

[Onelifetogive]

and channeled the neighbors 32 coupe when I was 8...

Like Shirley McClain?

[nicmarlo]

October 25, 2005. Song Yoo-geun displaying his admission certificate yesterday at Inha University.

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200510/24/200510242231371009900090409041.html

[staytrue]

Actually, from what I read, most of these child geniuses are totally burnt out by the time they're 20

From what I see, most US high school graduates have peaked by age 25 and they will even tell you it is all downhill from there.

Besides was not Condi some sort of prodigy ?

[sourcery]

That certificate is rather large even for an 18-year old student. Given the size (and assuming Yoo-geun's is the same size as that of any other student,) students probably hang them on the wall as a life-long trophy.

[nicmarlo]

It's probably like one of those fake checks given away, representing the actual check awarded (I'm sure you know what I'm talking about). He's a cute kid.

[staytrue]

I'm not sure they are as able to see morality issues with that same clarity.

Frankly, I'm not sure the average joe does either.