12 year old boy develops a solar cel which absorbs 500 Times!! the light of existing solar cells!!, page 1

12 year old boy develops a solar cel which absorbs 500 Times!! the light of existing solar cells!!, page 1

Pages: << 1 2 >>
ATS Members have flagged this thread 12 times

Topic started on 19-9-2008 @ 08:54 AM by Lunica

I thought this is significant news.

If he is right, solar panels with his 3D cells would provide 500 times more light absorption than commercially-available solar cells and nine times more than cutting-edge 3D solar cells.

LINK

Greetings Lunica

reply posted on 19-9-2008 @ 09:26 AM by Alxandro

I sure hope he protects his invention.

But, how can such a smart kid actually believe in Global Warming?
Oh well, at least one good thing came out of that belief.

reply posted on 19-9-2008 @ 10:34 AM by pause4thought

Certainly interesting. However if you read the comments and follow the links it appears he may have plagiarised.

reply posted on 19-9-2008 @ 10:39 AM by Terrapop

If this is true....

end of oil age and all the dirt connected to it!

Hope, Shell or BP are not visiting him and buying the tech off the market.

reply posted on 19-9-2008 @ 10:40 AM by peacejet

Thats great of him to receive a scholarship at this age, hope he succeeds in this endeavour to create the solar cell and market it around the world and solve the energy crisis.

reply posted on 19-9-2008 @ 10:41 AM by Merriman Weir

Originally posted by Alxandro
I sure hope he protects his invention.

But, how can such a smart kid actually believe in Global Warming?
Oh well, at least one good thing came out of that belief.

Does he say he believes in Global Warming in the video? I don't have broadband access and I couldn't see it in the actual article.

The fact he started with Lego rang a bell for me too. Perhaps in ten or twenty years, he's the guy that invented the Lego time machine from that other thread!

reply posted on 19-9-2008 @ 11:27 AM by toreishi

I found this in the comments section of this article.

The 3D solar cell was invented several years ago at the Georgia Tech Research Institute by our team of world-class scientists and engineers.

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (www.gtri.gatech.edu) has been making 3D solar cell prototypes of this design since 2004. You can read about the work in our April 2007 news release online at www.gtri.gatech.edu... Our work has patents pending in the US and abroad. We have also published our research widely in an number of highly regarded research journals including the Journal of Applied Physics, Journal of Materials and Carbon.

So the question is: Did this boy plagiarize work that's been done by others before him?

reply posted on 19-9-2008 @ 12:04 PM by Merriman Weir

Originally posted by toreishi
I found this in the comments section of this article.

The 3D solar cell was invented several years ago at the Georgia Tech Research Institute by our team of world-class scientists and engineers.

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (www.gtri.gatech.edu) has been making 3D solar cell prototypes of this design since 2004. You can read about the work in our April 2007 news release online at www.gtri.gatech.edu... Our work has patents pending in the US and abroad. We have also published our research widely in an number of highly regarded research journals including the Journal of Applied Physics, Journal of Materials and Carbon.

So the question is: Did this boy plagiarize work that's been done by others before him?

As I said in a previous post in the thread, I can't see the video due to not having broadband and can only go off the article. But, from, what I can read of both the article and the comments, I don't get the impression that he's claiming to have invented or originated 3D solar cells, 'simply' reworked or made advancements on current 3D solar cells.

[edit on 19-9-2008 by Merriman Weir]

reply posted on 19-9-2008 @ 12:13 PM by kozmo

He did NOT plagiarize anyone's work. It states very clearly that his cell is "9x more powerful that today's existing advanced 3D power cells." His presentation is over-layed with "Today's existing 3D cells."

He has developed a NEW 3D solar Cell technology which blows away previous 3D solar cell technology. My hat is off to this kid!

Assuming that the energy companies or the government don't ruin him, he stands to be a rich person - and deservedly so!

reply posted on 19-9-2008 @ 12:22 PM by Pilgrum

Very interesting

But the peak solar energy available (at midday) only amounts to 1kW/m^2 so even with 100% efficiency it would take 1 square km of cells to generate 1 gigawatt and that's only for a small portion of the day which is really nothing compared to consumer expectations.

reply posted on 19-9-2008 @ 12:24 PM by wheresthetruth

This is an amazing breakthrough, especially for such a young person. I will agree that I hope he protects his creation from the big oil companies. They have billions of dollars to throw his way and it could be all too easy to give in to the temptation to sell out.

When it comes to this, the last thing I thought about was global warming. Rather, this would solve a lot of the energy crisis, reduce costs to businesses and individuals and cutback on world oil dependancy.

Combine that with the energy efficiency items that can be installed and an individual could spend several thousand dollars up front to cut more than 90% of the oil-based energy consumed.

Sounds like a win win to me.

reply posted on 19-9-2008 @ 12:24 PM by jpm1602

The implications of this discovery is tremendous. And it took a twelve year old to do it.

Every house could not only be self supportive but add to the energy grid.

Fabulous stuff. Simply fabulous.

So much for Chevy and Ford's eggheads.

I can't wait for the day to tell the Saudi's to go back to camel herding and goat farming.

[edit on 9/19/2008 by jpm1602]

reply posted on 19-9-2008 @ 01:12 PM by Alxandro

Considering how much our educational system has been dumbed down, it's really refreshing to see such a young student taking his studies seriously and actually contributing to society by discovering something that everyone can benefit from.

This invention won't solve all our energy problems but it may be just another piece of some future puzzle.

reply posted on 19-9-2008 @ 03:30 PM by Blaine91555

Interesting how the first thing that happens in the discussion is to try and debunk him. Considering the Scholarship he received, it is obvious he is vetted. I hope my vision never gets that narrow.

reply posted on 19-9-2008 @ 04:31 PM by RogerT

Nanotech and renewable energy! 12 years old!

I am encouraged for the future of the planet.

Outside school, William plays piano, chess, and has a Poom Belt certificate (black belt for those under 15) in Taekwondo. He also enjoys traveling and skiing.

His parents must be very proud.

reply posted on 19-9-2008 @ 05:19 PM by pause4thought

Reply to Blaine91555

Interesting how the first thing that happens in the discussion is to try and debunk him... I hope my vision never gets that narrow.

If trying to establish the facts equates to narrowness I hope my vision never becomes broad.

All credit to the lad if he deserves it!

At the same time if we could just accept every upbeat claim on face value there wouldn't be much point to ATS.

reply posted on 19-9-2008 @ 06:39 PM by Shere Khaan

Originally posted by Blaine91555
Interesting how the first thing that happens in the discussion is to try and debunk him. Considering the Scholarship he received, it is obvious he is vetted. I hope my vision never gets that narrow.

Well you see when a 12 year old boy invents something that a well funded institute can't in a high technology field certain questions have to be asked. It was like when it was claimed that NASA admitted calculations were wrong to a young boy; it was eventually proved not true but only after plenty of people ran with the story without verifying the information.

Good investgations require facts be checked on all stories.

reply posted on 19-9-2008 @ 06:59 PM by Illusionsaregrander

Originally posted by Alxandro
But, how can such a smart kid actually believe in Global Warming?

Because he IS such a smart kid. And, apparently he hasnt been exposed to the "truth" about global warming yet, which the video below parodies.

video.google.com...

To the OP what a great find, and thank you for posting it.

The news lately has been so discouraging it is really refreshing to see some positive developments.

I hope this will help give the alternative energy developers some new ideas, and help break the fixation on fossil fuels a little.

reply posted on 19-9-2008 @ 07:42 PM by Desert Dawg

Strikes me that one reason he could have done it - contrary to the debunkers - is that he's working on his own and has no one to tell him it won't work....

reply posted on 19-9-2008 @ 07:47 PM by sty

1 kw/m2 is a LOT , i would -a 75% efficiency would give 1 horse-power per square meter.. and if you think on how large your roof is

but at this point I guess the problem number one is on how to store the energy as batteries are simply too primitive for the amount of energy we need to use..

[edit on 19-9-2008 by sty]

Pages: << 1 2 >> ^^TOP^^

The secrets hidden in the pyramids. A real eye opener!
Posted 5 days ago with 184 member flags

The mystery of 100+ mpg cars, and the disappearance & deaths of men behind it
Posted 14 days ago with 106 member flags

Scientists able to talk to and teach dolphins sentences - Dolphins share a universal language.
Posted 12 days ago with 93 member flags

6 Real People With Mind-Blowing Mutant Superpowers
Posted 4 days ago with 90 member flags

Pirate Bay to Allow Real-Object Downloads. The Real Reason for SOPA, IMO.
Posted 14 days ago with 74 member flags

a drop of water orbiting a nitting needle in space
Posted 4 days ago with 69 member flags

Top 10 Most Incredible Pieces Of Nanoscale Art
Posted 9 days ago with 43 member flags

cold plasma found above earth raises questions of einstiens "gravity is a fundimental force"
Posted 17 days ago with 25 member flags

Newest topics, updated in real-time:

Second most devastating oil spill? Massive oil spill in Venezuela
Fragile Earth, Posted 3 minutes ago

Iran To Reveal Nuclear Progress - "Big New" Achievements
Breaking Alternative News, Posted 6 minutes ago

BY POPULAR DEMAND! THE ORGONE ENERGY MEGATHREAD! DENIED TECHNOLOGY HERE!
ATS Skunk Works, Posted 34 minutes ago

Have the bodies at the "Bin Laden" raid been identified?
9/11 Conspiracies, Posted 39 minutes ago

I do not need a source or a pic for this.....
General Conspiracies, Posted 51 minutes ago

A Poem: Theta
Collaborative Writing, Posted 58 minutes ago

Vampires in Greece
Folk Tales & Urban Legends, Posted 1 hours ago

The meaning to life
Philosophy and Metaphysics, Posted 1 hours ago

Winter Finally Arrived!!! ...in Kentucky
Fragile Earth, Posted 1 hours ago

Minus -18 in uk last night expected to drop even lower
Fragile Earth, Posted 2 hours ago

Newest topics getting flags, in real-time:

Google accidentally released Maine election results early!
2012 US Elections, Posted 12 hours ago, 53 flags

Threatened by a Ron Paul victory in Maine, GOP (insider spills beans) adds last minute caucuses.
2012 US Elections, Posted 16 hours ago, 37 flags

Anonymous hacks CIA
Breaking Alternative News, Posted 17 hours ago, 22 flags

Greek police union wants to arrest EU/IMF officials
Breaking Political News, Posted 16 hours ago, 19 flags

Free Psychic Readings
General Chit Chat, Posted 13 hours ago, 19 flags

ATS's Gutter-rats and the 90+ intro thread
Rant, Posted 12 hours ago, 17 flags

Hollow Earth Theory New Evidence.
General Conspiracies, Posted 12 hours ago, 16 flags

The CIA in Australia: America's Foreign Watergate
Political Conspiracies, Posted 10 hours ago, 15 flags

Russia : We will take DRASTIC measures if the west doesn't stop their BS with Syria
World War Three, Posted 15 hours ago, 14 flags

Occupy Wall street, we are witnessing social revolution.
Social Issues and Civil Unrest, Posted 6 hours ago, 13 flags

Newest topics getting replies, in real-time:

Anonymous hacks CIA
Breaking Alternative News, Posted 17 hours ago, 124 replies

Free Psychic Readings
General Chit Chat, Posted 13 hours ago, 104 replies

Google accidentally released Maine election results early!
2012 US Elections, Posted 12 hours ago, 77 replies

Massive Obama Conspiracy to Kill the Second Amendment
US Political Madness, Posted 14 hours ago, 68 replies

Hollow Earth Theory New Evidence.
General Conspiracies, Posted 12 hours ago, 68 replies

Anonymous show your face!
Rant, Posted 8 hours ago, 61 replies

Actor Nicolas Cage finally comes out to talk about his doppelgänger in a civil war era photo.
General Conspiracies, Posted 15 hours ago, 57 replies

Free will
Philosophy and Metaphysics, Posted 16 hours ago, 50 replies