[pollwatcher]

If it's all true, a child has figured out the obvious!

[reagan_fanatic]

12 years old - wow. And to think when I was his age, the most important thing was getting home from school in time to watch Spiderman.

[CPT Clay]

Wow

[Centurion2000]

bump for later

[js1138]

Cutting edge cells convert something like 20 percent of solar energy to electricity. Nine times this seems unlikely.

[arrogantsob]

Another “Government School” doofus so roundly condemned by some around here.

[Trailerpark Badass]

Once again, one motivated, curious individual will produce far more good for humanity than legions of government agencies.

I wish him well.

[A. Morgan]

WOW! GREAT WORK, William!

[taraytarah]

[WakeUpAndVote]

This could really make an impact. If shaped into a sphere and placed on top of buildings, the lower longitude state could really save on cooling costs.

[lonevoice]

Of course, I have no idea if this will work or not. But OMG, where does a kid like this come from?

[pepsionice]

If true...the Saudis are now dealing a losing hand of cards. Autos powered by solar energy and his collection cell...will put gas powered gas out of existence in fifteen years. The kid ought to be put up for the Nobel Prize.

[Aria]

The sun is an object of great curiosity here in the northwest.

[Ancient Drive]

If it’s all true, a child has figured out the obvious!

all those millions..billions of dollars spent on this kind of research, and they get smacked by a 12 yr. old... lmao

[GOP Poet]

This is what happens when a child is taught the facts, the basics, and allowed to have raw curiosity and in fact encouraged (some naturally have more than others). Often these days all this political, cultural poo is instilled in children at the cost of teaching them basic knowledge and allowing unlimited curiosity to think as comes to them not as dictated by others of less intelligence (can you said liberals!!!!!!!!).

Excellent news!!!! Heres to foundational knowledge, curiosity, and invention!!!!

[Darth Hillary]

It’s great the kid is interested in science, but this smells like cold fusion.

[DoughtyOne]

William Yuan, a Beaverton, Oregon 12-year boy, invented a new kind of solar cell that can absorb both visible and ultraviolet light.

I bet this kind of news makes you feel pretty weird about your own accomplishments so far. It sure made me. And, to scare you even further, I took a look at little Will's resume. Oh my, here goes.

Two years before finishing elementary school in 2007, he became a member of the First Lego League (FLL) and this determined him to delve into the research of nanotechnology and renewable energy. Since he realized the importance of the latter for the future, he focused his attention on the study and development of solar cells. Regular visits to Portland State University helped him with his project.

Besides that, he broadened his intellectual interests and began attending computer programming, biology, media design and mechanical engineering. Here are some of the institutions he "visits": FLL, Science Bowl, MESA (Math, Engineering, and Science Achievement), Signal to Noise, American Mathematics Competitions, Mathcounts, Chess, Geo-Bee, and the Discovery Education Young Scientist Challenge. Furthermore, Yuan plays chess and piano and likes to ski, while he also has a black belt (for those under 15) in Taekwondo. From 2005 up to now, he won 17 awards for most of his interests.

Regarding his project, called "A Highly-Efficient 3-Dimensional Nanotube Solar Cell for Visible and UV Light," he has recently been granted a $25.000 scholarship for research purposes. He came up with some carbon nanotubes that help overcome the boundaries of electron movements, which doubles the efficiency of light-electricity conversion. He also designed a solar tower model, as well as a piece of software that simulates and optimizes its parameters. This optimized design allows for 500 times more light absorption than the commonly available commercial solar cells and about 9 times top-notch 3D ones.

He plans to get his invention out on the market, which will depend on its cost efficiency. Given his youth, William has an entire lifetime ahead to improve on that as well.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Little-Wonder-Boy-Discovers-New-Solar-Cell-Type-93760.shtml

[B.O. Plenty]

If this is true....all Freepers should become rich investing in the company who ultimately manufactures the cells.

You can never tell who the next Walmart, Microsoft or Google may be.......keep your eyes open and your powder dry.

[rrrod]

Buy this kid a beer!.../s

[HammerOfTheDogs]

How many billions did he need in Government funds?

[DainBramage]

When I was his age 3D’s was what I got on math english and spelling.