Headlines in both the mainstream and technology media have been buzzing with reports of a 12-year-old’s science project that describes a 3D solar cell made from carbon nanotubes that can absorb both visible and UV light.
Headlines like “A 12-Year-Old's Solar Cell May Revolutionize the Energy Industry” litter the press, but despite reading a number of the stories I can’t ascertain if the wunderkind, who goes by the name of William Yuan, has actually created some kind of prototype or merely describes the technology.
Advice is coming thick and fast to patent the technology and start licensing.
Now I don’t want rain on anyone’s parade, especially a 12-year-old’s, but there is something eerily similar to this technology and a 3D solar cell made out of nanotubes by Georgia Tech researchers.
Odd that this GTRI announcement didn’t garner the same “revolutionize the energy industry” headlines. I guess the researchers were just 20 years too old to make it news.
Comments (1)
Found this somewhere else:
I interviewed William for my story on KATU-TV. I want to clarify some information. William researched 3D solar cells for two years, as his own personal homework assignment. He took research from Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, and a nanotechnology lab at PSU and then enhanced, modified and improved the technology. Experts with the Davidson scholarship reviewed his work as well as local professors.
And no, he's not homeschooled.
He goes to a unique public school where they have a special program called Summa. It's for kids who are in the 99th percentile in BOTH reading and math.
I have to tell you, when I talked with him I felt like I was talking with a 30 year old professor, he's so intelligent. Plus, I hear, he's a great kid and I have no doubt, he'll make a wonderful contribution to the world.
Posted by J.Donner | September 20, 2008 3:23 AM
Posted on September 20, 2008 03:23