By John D. Sutter, CNN
Obvious statement: Lots of middle schoolers have been outside.
But I'm going to go out on a limb and say that almost none of them look up at the trees, see the Fibonacci Sequence in the branches, and use that insight to develop new and more-efficient methods of arranging solar panels.
Stuff like that only happens to Aidan Dwyer.
This 13-year-old from Long Island, New York, was a presenter at the recent PopTech conference, where he spoke with CNN. He says his method for arranging solar panels - based on the mathematics of tree branches - is 20 to 50% more efficient than traditional solar arrays, especially in low-light conditions, such as cloudy days in the winter or in places where there are lots of trees and tall buildings.
"My design is like a tree," he said, "but instead of having leaves it has solar panels at the ends (of the branches)."
Dwyer created a prototype of this tree-like solar panel array for a science fair with the help of his granddad. He ordered the solar panels online and the pair built the rest of it together. For his efforts, he won the Young Naturalist award this year from the American Museum of Natural History in New York. (You can see a photo of the solar-panel prototype on that museum's website).
This idea for this energy-saving project hit Dwyer when he was going for a walk in the woods near his home in New York:
One day I was just walking through the woods - well, on a winter hiking trip - and I noticed that the tree branches collect sunlight by going up into the air. And I thought: 'Maybe if we put solar panels on the ends of the branches it would collect a lot of sunlight.'
He also made another mind-boggling observation: That tree branches spiral up the trunk based on a mathematic concept called the Fibonacci Sequence. I had to look that equation up before my interview with Dwyer, but I didn't really need to. He can explain it off the top of his head:
The Fibonacci Sequence was made by a medieval mathematician, Fibonacci, and he played with a math puzzle to figure out how fast rabbits could reproduce over time. How it's done is you start with 0 and 1, and then you add the two numbers in the series together to get the next number in the sequence. So it's like 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, and so on.
He added:
The fraction for an oak tree is 2:5, which means five branches spiral around the trunk two times to reach the same starting point. So, if you start out at 75 degrees, and you get five branches to go around the trunk twice, then you'll be back at 75 degrees.
Right-o, kid.
Dwyer said he's been contacted by professors and other middle schools who want to work with him on this project, but not all scientists are impressed with his work. Some science bloggers have tried to debunk some of Dwyer's concept, saying, among other things:
Aidan did not actually discover a more efficient way to convert solar energy into power as he claimed and these numerous publications reported. In fact, Aidan’s essay, while extremely well written, contains methodological flaws and incorrect conclusions.
That blog post, on a site called The Optimiskeptic, questions whether Dwyer used the right measurements to make his conclusions:
I’m not entirely sure why Aidan thought that he could measure power intake by measuring voltage on his solar cells. I’m not entirely sure why the different arrangements yielded different voltage totals ... I do know that solar cells are designed to convert energy from photons into potential energy in the form of electrons: 'charging the battery.' Levels of voltage have nothing to do with how charged that battery is, however, and at no time during his experiment was Aidan actually measuring how much power was being converted by each of the solar cell arrangements.
Dwyer, for his part, says the bloggers are missing the point:
Some of the commenters were encouraging me and some were giving me ideas to expand my research. But some, I felt like they didn't understand my project. Their points weren't really related to my project. I was trying to see if the tree design could collect more sunlight - not more open current voltage. But I also measured open-current voltage and it collected 20% more (than flat-panel solar arrays).
Furthermore, he said, his panels collected 50% more light in low-light conditions than flat-panel arrangements, like those found on top of homes.
So there. Of course, science is a conversation. Debate is a good thing. Who knows whether Dwyer's tree-based solar panels really will change the world - but how cool is it that a 13-year-old has come up with an idea that even has the potential to bump the clean-tech industry a bit into the future?
Dwyer is among the people most shocked by all the attention his project has gotten. He's not sure what to make of it all - or how to handle conversations with adults for that matter:
At PopTech I feel a little lonely because I'm the youngest one there - like, by a big range. It's pretty lonely being the youngest one ... I don't know how to start a conversation with an adult yet - so I just have to wait for them to ask me questions, and all that. They just come up to me and go 'You're that kid!' And then they ask me about my project and they ask me about how I found that idea and then the conversation forms.
One thing I found particularly impressive about Dwyer is that he come across as smart, composed - and normal. The phrase "child genius" brings to mind the social-awkwardness of the kids in "The Royal Tenenbaums" or overly-adult-seemingness of that child actor in "The Sixth Sense." Dwyer doesn't emit those qualities. He seems like pretty much any other middle schooler you might meet - until you ask him about Fibonacci.
"I'm starting to get into photography. I do a sailing program in the summer. I play golf - and I, like, hang out with my friends," he said.
Those friends, by the way, don't quite get all this solar-panel business.
"They're really impressed - but they don't really understand it," he said, cracking a nervous smile. "I don't really talk to them about it."
He saves those conversations for reporters - and for his conference lectures, of course.
Click the video below to watch Dwyer's presentation at the PopTech conference last month. And let us know what you think in the comments.
Each week, CNN's "The Next List" profiles innovators, visionaries and agents of change. They’re not household names just yet, but they’re movers and shakers in their own worlds. We’re introducing them to you because these individuals are steadily mapping the course to the future with their new ideas.
WHO: Host Dr. Sanjay Gupta
WHEN: Sundays at 2 p.m. ET
WHERE: Only on CNN
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Science is a conversation? Debate is a good thing? Hypocrites. The author wrote those word about conversation and debate, forgetting that if a scientist has the nerve to even question man-made global climate change, he/she is called a heretic and a "denier." Everything else, though may continue to be questioned, studied, and debated? Give me a break.
Where? And those that argue against global warming, usually have, a vested interest in its expansion. If it exists.
It is obvious by listening to this child speak that he is not even above average in intelligence. I bet mommy and daddy put together most of his project.
Reading your response I bet you are of below average intelligence. Not all geniuses are socially awkward and clumsy. He could be extremely smart to extremely stupid. Who knows? I do know, it appears, that he has contributed more to society than you have.
Too bad your parents couldn't come up with an idea for you when you were a 13 year old nose picker.
It was immediately obvious to me that this project was a mistake based on pseudo sciences. Solar panels today, even the best, only produce 40% of the energy that hits a sq ft of the Earth's surface. Science has already know that if you use a tracking system you can keep the output at near 100% levels as the sun passes through the sky. I also knew of other projects which used this same "science" and they were failures.
So where does this leave the story? What about the judges who "judged" his creation? What ignorant people they were!!! Was he awarded any money as a prize? or earned because of this pseudo science? Should he give it back? Should he give up his awards?
Sure, let us support young children for trying to make the world better. I totally support that direction! but enabling a child by supporting this hogwash is only being ignorant. Heck, this boy even admitted that he measured incorrectly the output of the energy.
I work for a fossil fuel energy company. This kid has re-discovered an idea that has been around for a long time; it is familiar to most biologists, and to those working wiht solar panels and arrays. A product based onthis idea already exists, and is available for pre-purchase; at least, a tabletop version of it, called the Electree:
http://www.ulule.com/electree/
Here is the lap charger: http://www.jetsongreen.com/2008/08/solar-cell-tree.html. The kid didn't invent it. The problem with his finds based on his models, the tree solar panels were point East, 20 of them and only 10 solar panels, one side of the house were point East. That would result in a 50% reduction from the model house.
There are problems with the article and theory. It is a well known fact that small plants follow the sun moving to absorb more sunlight, it is not just the spiral configuration that helps. That should be added to the CNN article and if missing the kids results. A stationary solar panel does not, but some more advanced panels do move and would be thus more efficient than a tree because the obviously cover more area. The kid is going in the right direction. I calculated the probable neutrino masses at that age long before neutrinos were known to have mass... When I have some free time, I'd like to see how close my calculations were to what CERN's latest results are. What worries me is that his parents helped him. I had to compete with a lot of other kids like that, and was quite annoyed.... next time he should decline the help. I declined my parent's help and did just fine.
Typical rah-rah feel good baseless drivel the CNN pop science desk is famous for.
Trees feature the Fibonacci Sequence because they are organisms largely incapable evolving and sustaining large, perfectly flat, square leaves in a tight grid formation with integrated tracking mechanism. First of all, it wouldn't last two minutes in a light wind. Trees can't face all leaves in the same direction simultaneously with no shadowing and track the sun from horizong to horizon, so therefore trees are inherently less efficient collectors of usable solar energy.
It must really be the proverbial slow news day. How about a story on how much coal fired corporate electricity the Occupy movement is burning up with their Macbooks and iPhones?
Dude, come on. He's a kid genius. Stop taking everything so seriously. Geezus.
Reading this article does not impress me. So this kid looks at trees and then says that solar panels should be arranged like tree branches? I really doubt he's the first to think of that idea. Maybe the first to speak out on the subject but I doubt he's the first to come up with the idea. I'm sure that others have thought about it, experimented with the idea of arranging them a certain way, and found that it wasn't going to work. Plus,is he suggesting putting solar panels ON trees, or building solar collectors to LOOK like trees in arrangement? Just what we need. People throw fits when people put solar panels on houses, or solar panels anywhere near some place but I guess it will be okay if the LOOK like trees, because it is aesthetically pleasing? People go off on those wind mills. I don't see how this is that big of a deal. Yes, yes, he is 13, but how many other 13 year olds have great ideas that we haven't heard about, or that people criticize them about?
Ryan...you don't impress me!
Jesus. What have YOU done for humanity lately?
This kid had a great idea that has the potential to increase solar panel output due to arranging them in a manner *completely different* from how they are arranged now in every solar panel farm on the planet. It has nothing to do with being "aesthetically pleasing" or making them look like trees – it has to do with energy output and efficiency.
Utterly pathetic comment from a complete dunce cap.
So he should come back when he's measured the right thing. We need to know how much POWER the array produces, all he has provided is the open circuit voltage. Without a meaningful measurement how can we evaluate his idea other than comparing it to previous experiments and simulations?
You're a dufus.
I can say with a highly level of certainty that the solar panels being arranged in such a way that they appear to be branches of trees have nothing to do what its aesthetic value or how good it looks
It appears you need to read the article a bit more closely. Although you might be right in saying that its possible he is not the first to think about that, it might have come across people's mind or even a full blown research, but thats not the point.
The point is that he is a young kid who had a great idea with a great project. Maybe it wont be so great compared to the discovery of Penicillin or people walking on the moon, but nonetheless its an accomplishment, and an uncommon one at that.
OMG this story is still around. It came out months ago and has already been debunked hundreds of times. His science teacher screwed the math involved and his array design is not efficient at all. A+ for thinking outside the box but F- for his science teacher for giving him garbage science/math to work with.
Joel, I was talking to some people and learned that you are not a super-popular guy.
Though he's correct, it was debunked:
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2011/08/natural-history-museum-defends-teen-scientists-debunked-discovery/41765/
Unfortunately the overzealous CNN "moderators" (i.e. censors) won't let me point out an even more serious error that occurred several years ago (in the 2004) that never got corrected or even clarified.
Kudos to the kid for creative (if not entirely original) thinking. A big TSK TSK to CNN for the poorly conceived headline for this article. There is a huge difference between a "Solar Panel Developer" and "Solar Panel Arranger". I clicked on this article to read about a kid who "Developed" some new kind of Solar Panel Technology, as that is what the headline implied that he had done. Shame on you CNN for misrepresenting what he did, because now people are making fun of him.
Yep, that kid pizzez me off just lookin' at him.
I'll bet you pizz off people around you just by being there.
Frank! You must have an inferiority complex and this is they you have to use an exclamation mark at the end of your name.
So I guess Obama will give this kid 500 million without any debate from Congress/Senate.
Na, he doesn't have the necessary connections (and didn't make any campaign donations) !
So a story about a middleschooler that *might* have developed a way to increase solar power generation by 20% (at a cost of being more wind susceptible) gets a nice front page cnn article, but an italian scientist whose LENR e-cat technology is gaining support that could replace the dependancy on fossil fuel world wide remains unmentioned.
That kid pizzez me off just lookin' at him.
Oh, God. I think I'm gonna puke.... BRARRRAWWEGGRRRAWQWEWWHHHHh!!!......muh.... feel better now.
That's absolutely WONDERFUL, Aiden!! Kudos to you on your discovery! Don't listen to these feel-like-they-know-it-alls. Just continue with your projects and enlighten the world with your new discoveries! "May the Force Be With You"!
Until he comes back with a measurement of power, his results are still meaningless. He measured open circuit voltage, that doesn't say anything about the efficiency of his arrangement. Kudos for the effort, but this should be a teaching experience, not front page news.
James, if you were placed in the position of guiding young people to be all they can be, they would literally and ultimately fail! Aidan's work has been highly praised by Ph.D.s and many other learned people who truly know what they are talking about. What's your excuse?!
I have an idea where he might have got the idea. Maybe he watched the video I uploaded to YouTube three or four years ago as part of their Amazing Ideas contest, or whatever they called it, where they were going to give $250,000 to the ten best ideas submitted to aid in getting them started with development. I talked about the structure of trees and why designing solar arrays like trees would dramatically increase power production for a given footprint of installation. Looks like I need more confidence in my ideas...also a bigger bankroll would help. Sounds like this golf playing, boating lessons 13 year old has some rich family members helping him.
Still another observation of Mother Nature at work. Trees after all rely on solar energy and this young man noticed the practical layout of the "panels". Good for him.
Great job, everyone remember he is a middle school student, all these mathmaticians questioning his calculations is just jealousy
If mathematicians were going to be jealous, wouldn't they be jealous of other mathematicians, not of middle-school students?
What a dork.
No,YOU are.
Its awesome he figured out Biomimicry on his own. Wish this was taught in the classroom to help the next generation think outside the box and realize that solutions to problems are bountiful in nature.
Just shows how bad most people are at math. They can't figure out why this is not a good idea. The trick is to come up with a GOOD way to design if one design is better than another. Say "watts divided by dollar" and then apply this and see who scores best. Tree shaped solar panels will not win if that is the way they are scored.
Smart kid. Good to think of stuff like this. But at 13 he has not learned how to evaluate competing designs.
I'll just leave this here
http://www.eco-scams.com/archives/746
"Solar-panel “trees” really are inferior (or: “In which hopelessly inept journalists reduce me to having to debunk a school science project”)"
Gotta say props to the kid for being interested in science. Though CNN really shouldn't be putting up articles about which they know nothing about
CNN stated that "not all scientists are impressed with his work.... Aidan’s essay... contains methodological flaws and incorrect conclusions." Others are very impressed. There is, as CNN described it, a conversation in science.
Since "CNN" says so, it must be so, no? hehehe... did you even READ the original article by the kid and the debunking article... if you DID, there would be no conversation of any kind
Don't be like this shallow reporter... go a little deeper before you want to open your mouth to express yourself!
I'm impressed with the kid, just not with the media. They dropped the ball and made a big deal out of an idea that was thoroughly debunked months ago.
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2011/08/natural-history-museum-defends-teen-scientists-debunked-discovery/41765/
To Why CNN...why?:
I'll bet he's smarter than you are because you don't seem smart at all.
I once had a great idea for the science fair, but I could not afford to order all the expensive pieces for my science project. I was on the free lunch program at school and didn't have the benefits of some (like a CNN story about me)
It would be odd to have a conversation with this 13-year-old. You would discuss solar power, the Fibonacci Sequence, video games, the history of technology, thermodynamics, girls...
to all the haters, what have YOU done lately?
Do you also think only a gourmet chef can know if his meal is burned?
A brilliant young man. Did anyone ever compared the costs? You can think of something that can Turn to face the sun every time but we need to consider if it makes economic sense .
Solar arrays already exist which follow the sun via servos.
The cost vs. unmoving panels is not beneficial for most homeowners. If you have a huge area – several acres – the added sunlight can become reasonable.
Promising? yes. Brilliant? TBD.
Kid missed most of the scientific process.... no literature or state-of-the-art survey.... no follow-up reasoning on the results... simple search would have taken him to "existing" systems that do better than his "random tree" ever could! See below:
Hey, I am all for encouraging inquisitive kids.. but NOT for such useless reporters, who need to even look-up Fibonacci!, putting "brilliance" and "breakthrough" air in kids head... does more harm than good! and yes, someone did post even more detailed reasoning why this is a pseudo-science hype created by non-scientific reporters... see here: http://optimiskeptic.com/2011/08/21/this-is-where-bad-science-starts/
The fact that this kid is famous is directly proportional the the number of foolish people out there. How you arrange solar panels will not affect the amount of power generated by them. The physics is simple...the photon fluence and the efficiency of the panels determine the amount of power generated by the panels. The panels don't care how they are arranged.
It's all about fractals. Mathematics that was rejected but highlighted in a recent program of NOVA. In fact efficiency was increased by 97%. I actually initiated the concept and 3 weeks later it was released in a article in Nature. I have e-mails to prove the concept.
If that is the case, then one should be able to test this theory by stringing together a number of power sources in a fibonacci sequence and measure the power output...take 9 volt batteries for instance. Then, string them together in a linear fashion and see if their is a power difference. Sounds silly to me.
My point is that the power generation per panel will not vary based on the physical configuration.
I have a pyramid that sharpens razor blades.
Albert: People like you are destroying the world. STFU
Yeah right... people like you make snake oil peddlers rich.
Only a fool would post a comment like you did. It's called tact, Fool!
Because CNN told us so, right? What a buffoon.
You missed the point, it was not about the panels themselves, but their arrangement to optimize collection of incident solar energy.
If you stack ten solar panels on top of each other the bottom 9 will all produce zero power. But, lay them side by side they will all produce power.
So , the way the panels are arranged will effect how much light falls on them.
You primary premise, that arrangement does not change effectiveness is not true.
Trees have evolved for millions of years to arrange their leaves to collect the maximum sunlight. Their model can be used to arrange solar panels for maximum solar exposure.
I assumed the photonic angle of incidence was maximized per panel. Of course this matters, but the physical layout does not. Saying I could layout the panels in the shape of a mushroom vs. the shape of maple leaf will affect the power output is ludicrous.
Trees can't form and maintain perfectly flat, automatic solar tracking large scale panels. That's why they use the leaf solution.
Albert, I'm not sure you have understood the configuration of the panels. While they mention he observed tree branches spiral in a fiber-whatever sequence, he never said the sequence was responsible for the increased power production. They never say in this article how he arranged the panels, only that in his original idea he though putting panels on the ends of tree branches would "probably collect a lot of sunlight". I'm sure if a flat panel was the most efficient way to collect sunlight in the broadest array of weather conditions that mother-nature could have figured that out a evolved trees, which live off the sun, to better take advantage.
The only thing that is clear to me that was achieved by this kid is that he discovered that if you let sunlight hit the panel, it will generate power. If you arrange them on a tree in a fibonacci sequence, then the amount of photons hitting the panels, in a "3D" setup such as this, is maximized. The total cross section in the z direction is minimized, while generating maximal power.
Who cares? This is alredy widely known in the physics and math communities.
These posts claiming that trees are the most efficent form of solar collection surely validates the fact that U.S. science education has reached an all time low.
I am a solar engineer. You are both wrong. Solar panels DO make more or less power depending on how they are arranged. But his arrangement willbe inferipanels flat panels. He is only measuring voltage.he has to measure watts.
1. Kids with ideas should be encouraged... but also provided constructive criticism... or told when their idea makes no sense...
Solar panels only care about the number of incident photons... so to increase the output all you need to do is maintain all your panel area perpendicular to the photons... track the sun in the sky... like a Sunflower... like many solar plants *already* do! What, you didn't know? 
2. Kid probably would have done better if he got his inspiration from a Sunflower rather than random trees
1 b) This is WHY he got more output from random tree than a non-moving panel which he laid flat... "tree" had one or the other smaller panel perpendicular... but still less than he would have got if he periodically moved the flat panel(s)... he needs to be taught to investigate his findings further in depth like a scientist
2. Any reporter who needs to look up an "equation" for the Fibonacci sequence, should not be reporting ANYTHING scientific
So much scientific gibberish. Just paints roof tops white. Studies show that white roofs reduce air-conditioning costs by 20 percent or more in hot, sunny weather and lower energy consumption also means fewer of the carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming. Its a idea that many can afford and it works. Let's start small... actually let's just start doing something instead of talking about it.
Can you paint asphalt shingles? What kind of paint?
There is a rubberized paint that can go on top of asphalt shingles.
If we just used white shingles in the first place there would be no need for paint. After a recent hail storm in Phoenix, many housed needed to be re-shingled. Most people were use dark red, brown or black shingles. For $0.00 more they could have selected white.
What would be neat is if they could decorate cities with these. Perfect them a little and mount solar panel trees on the buildings. It would look nice, and add a very high-tech feel to wherever they are. They could be almost like modern-art sculptures.
Voltage and Current mean nothing alone. It's Power (watts) that matters and you don't measure Watts with open circuit numbers. Kudos to the kid for doing the experiment but concluding there is more power available in the "Tree array" is crappy science. The opoosite conclusion is the correct one.
FYI I am a licensed electrician, NABCEP Certified Solar Installer, and I own a solar installation company that has installed close to 4 megawatts od solar. I know what I am talking about.
Maybe but you don't know much about PV I-V characteristics or MPP power extraction. Please stick to what you know. The kid's project was great, and technically valid.
You claim that what this kid did was "crappy science" and yet your reasoning as to why is nothing more than an argument from authority (i.e. you state your credentials as reason as to why your opinion is valid). If YOU would like to repeat his experiment and show that his conclusions are wrong, you are more than welcome to (you could even publish your results).
What this kid did is actually science, you couldn't even manage that.
Look the point is if you don't know the difference between open circuit voltage and power, you won't understand the criticism here.
I've developed a car that can go 500 miles! The efficiency is revolutionary! I never bothered to measure how many gallons of fuel it consumed to go that distance but so what? It goes 500 miles and the others I looked at could only go 400!
Yeah, what Archangl508 said! And besides, with words like "opoosite" and "4 megawatts od solar", you might know a little about solar energy but you can't spell worth a sh!t... I can see the "great education" you received as a child has helped you tremendously to come up with bright ideas of your own. What? No bright ideas? Hmmm, you’re just another "installer" then. Thanks God for kids like Aidan!
As a side note to those not familiar with solar farms, they operate by moving solar panels so that the incident rays from the sun strike them as perpendicular as possible. This ensures the maximum absorption of energy and as a result, the highest performance. The price or reorienting the panels is minuscule compared to the additional amount of energy they produce. The math behind this just doesn't add up... (PhD Mech Eng)
You are right.
Nice job! I am always pleasantly surprised at people with original ideas – especially when they are young. The Fibonacci Sequence is well known and abundantly found in nature. In fact, it it the basic element on which nature is built that brings stability and order into it. It has such a phenomenal effect that we incorporated the Fibonacci Sequence in our own product, LiftYourLife SoundPads.The mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci has shown that in nature there exists an efficient arrangement principle (golden section). Fibonacci has subsequently developed his famous series of numbers that is commonly known to mathematicians. Fibonacci can be found almost everywhere : spiral forms in plants, animals, humans, even in the universe. Studies indicate that Fibonacci sequences are connected with feelings of euphoria and happiness. Fibonacci-tone sequences generate feelings that are in the Golden Center and contribute to a harmonic process of change of one's personality. Some well-known composers of Fibonacci music : Johann Sebastian Bach (The Art of Fugue). Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Sonata No. 1 in C major). Béla Bartók (Sonata for two pianos and percussion. There is a beautiful movie on the subject of Fibonacci: http://bit.ly/awnEkg
I find this information about Fibonaci sequence highly interesting where can I find more information on that product?
Thank you for your interest. You can find more info here: http://www.fibolife.com
WOA. I just saw his experiments and I'm impressed. Incredible what a young mind is capable of doing. Kudos Aidan, you're an inspiration to us all.... old and young.
Aidan, great job! Glad at 13 you got your priorities straight...my advice: keep focused and keep studying, and I hope one day you will develop some even more fantastic engineering achievements! It's people like you who remind us we are in the 21st-century and WE ALL have are able to use reason and our own individual intellect, REGARDLESS OF AGE! Great job!!! Hope to be reading some of your papers one day!
Send this kid to Congress, at least he did something.
http://rankmaniacolgate.blogspot.com/
This is a great idea. It is therefore dangerous to the oil company's. Watch Exxon will buy the idea and bury it.
I've been hearing that conspiracy drivel for over 30 years. The patents the run cars on tap water and good wishes from the 1960s have all run out. No matter is Standard Oil or Exxon bought them. They are public domain now. Where are they? Why haven't they been released?
Anyone, including you, can get the detailed diagrams from the patent office and post them. But, you won't. Because you can't. Because they do not exist.
I know it's easier to make up a conspiracy theory than to take any action of your own.
I had a choice of conspiracy theory or weather strip the back door. Conspiracy theory or buy a higher efficiency AC. Conspiracy theory or insulation. Conspiracy theory or window shades.
So I have weather stripping, a high efficiency AC, insulation, windows shades and over 40% less power consumption. So how are the conspiracy theories and foil hat working out for you?
By the way, despite the fact that I reduced my power consumption 40% and spread my radical ideas to my neighbors, the local electric utility has so far not assassinated me and made my death look like an accident then burned down by house to hide my secrets.
The concept makes perfect sense if you think about it. Leaves on a tree are arrayed in different directions and they catch reflected light that travels in various planes. By using a variable angle array of solar collectors it becomes possible to catch reflected light beams that are traveling in variant directions. It's not a matter of IF this concept is valid but HOW to arrange the solar panel arrays to achieve the greatest efficiency. His model is very simple and for a 13 year old kid working at home with the help of his grandfather this is still an amazing achievement.
Yes, nature has a way of doing what it must to thrive.
Tree leaves are arranged that way because leaves are cheap and trees don't have muscles or motors to reposition the leaves. Solar panels are very expensive, and mechanisms to move them are cheap in comparison. That's why the highest efficiency solar arrays are motorized to follow the sun.
Disgusted that this would be posted. John Sutter has completely failed to research the topic, and I expect better from CNN. This was debunked months ago. I've been touting CNN and BBC for years for unbiased reports, but I may be dropping CNN because of this. I realize it doesn't seem like much, but if you're not going to invest even a little in fact checking, I'm pretty sure I don't care what you conclude...
Good by.
Nice. Mix this together with the Solar Ivy idea someone else mentioned, make the whole thing retractable so it can be protected from destructive weather patterns and perhaps we can see something great created. Expand the concept. Even if it needs more serious scientific testing it is still a fascinating accomplishment. Now we need people to take it to the next level and keep the thought process going.
Keep up the great work Aidan! We need more kids like you helping to shape a better tomorrow!
The benefits of the solar power industry are mainly belonging to the panel manufacturers. Basically, they dont work. Yes, they do produce SOME power but not the promised amount. The panels also have to be washed frequently as dirty panels produce less and less energy (constant cleaning of solar energy farms is quite expensive). And lastly, they delaminate (fall apart) much faster than the manufacturers promise. Spend a few minutes pulling up some of the research on it. Its the biggest energy scam out there today.
Every new technology has its learning curve. Give it time and those problems will be overcome. And they will be overcome by people with imagination, like Aidan for instance.
It only makes sense that if you arrange solar collectors in circle, slanted upward, more energy will be collected than if they are all in the same plane, pointed in the same direction. With his arrangement, there are always some pointed toward the sun or sky. You don't see flat trees, or any two dimensional plants. They all collect solar energy from all directions, all day long. Traditional solar arrays can be in shadow part of the day, or angled in such a direction that the sun striking them is too oblique, thus not efficient.
His methodology was not flawed, so I don't know where that's coming from. He simply compared the open circuit voltage of the Fibonacci arrangement to the planar arrangement, then since the open circuit voltage is a direct function of the solar insolation (intensity of radiation striking the panel), he proves the Fibonacci to be significantly superior to the planar in collecting solar energy. I don't know if trees are the best paradigm though- lots of problems with wind and ice, and they take up a lot of room.
The only problem with solar is it's so weak and expensive, and of course only available during daylight hours. We need vast arrays of sun tracking panels located in areas with lots of available sunlight like the deserts of the southwest, then boost this electrically to super high voltages ( like 1 million volts DC) to be shipped all over the continent for distribution into the existing power network. There's no reason why this can't be done now.
The best use of solar at the individual residence level is solar thermal panels used to heat water, either for supplementing a fossil fuel/electrical hot water heater, and/or hydronic/radiant heating during cold weather. These are not photovoltaic but solar heat exchanger technology, maybe just a smattering of photvoltaic to run circulation pumps and other accessories. And there's no reason the Fibonacci discovery could not be applied to them also.
You should spend some time researching this.
The open circuit voltage of a solar panel has almost nothing to do with the amount of useful power the panels produce, so tell me again how the methodology is not flawed? Open circuit voltage is meaningless, POWER is what matters.
John Sutter ... shame on you for such drivel.
Make sure you write the follow-up 12 months from now.
I guess most technical incompetents really do thing science is that easy.
He obviously ran out of time for his science "project" and went to books like "Against the Gods" for "inspiration".
Quantify the results. It doesn't matter if he can write a school project paper that mentions a famous arithmetic sequence. What kind of efficiency can he achieve for what cost in his solar project in practice – or has it even been reduced to practice?
Give me real world numbers or shut up.
Observation......... Plants collect light efficiently
... No kidding.. People are so dumb if they think this kid is the next steve jobs..
if he is it is because the Freemasons or higher ups groomed him to be so.
I hate you with all my heart freemasons and illuminati!
Are you a knight templar? Is that you, W?
At least he thinks..
alright... since we have plenty of comments commending this kid for doing something really cool. i'll just go ahead and say it.
...clearly he didn't do this on his own... and he's getting a too much credit. I was playing sports when I was his age... my dad couldn't do that for me.
but whatever.... its a feel good story. i get it.
God Bless ya kiddo.
when bill gates was in 8th grade he was teaching himself computer programming, and we all know where that led. don't be so quick to assume that a young person can't be an original thinker – it may well be that only the young can develop truly different ways of looking at problems.
When I was in elementary school, I looked at the map of the world and thought, "all the continents fit together". At that time the concept of plate tectonics was not known and if I had told a scientist that, he would have said, "kid, you are wrong". Now it is a fact, and I was right. So, don't dismiss the observations of kids. They are not constrained by accepted beliefs, and can sometimes cut through to see the simplicity of things.
All the naysayers making fun of this kid because of his discovery. Well we all know that's only because they didn't think of it first.
Can someone please explain to me how any single comment or thread here adds one iota to the article? I'm going back to my usual practice of not reading comments at all. Silly me, I actually thought an article about an innovative idea by a 13-year-old might actually draw interesting comments, not the usual drivel. CNN, why do you bother? (See, mine doesn't pertain to the article either.)
By the sound of these comments, you would think that there would be more people in the world making a difference in things, instead of sitting on their butts and criticizing someone who did. But no, here we are....
Add a GPS smarts to the tree to track the sun and based on that re-configure the branches; the solution would become better.
Perhaps the energy consumption needed to mechanically move the "branches" and track the sun, would cancel out any additional energy stored. Maybe that's why this kid's design idea is really the better idea.
GPS can track your position on earth. It wont track Sun. When someone come up with such a brilliant idea that too 13 year old. appreciate it.
I knew I had to explain this one. The GPS receives provides with your location and time. You would use that information based on your UTM ZONE to find out which country you are. You can then use the almanac information for sun (and perhaps light sensors) to determine what is the best angle. There are already proven technology that uses GPS for that http://doyourpart.com/eco-news/solar-panels-use-gps-to-track-the-sun/
@KS A computer would plug its current gps coordinates into a forumla to figure out where the sun is supposed to be at a certain time.
I would be hoping for a new energy source rather then just an improvement. I still haven't seen any articles on CNN about the e-cat. This still is very... inspiring.
Great job! Outstanding acheivment for such a sharp kid. And he did it without a half billion dollars of taxpayer money.
HAHA- excellent observation!
Keep it up! Science RULES
CNN should do a lot more research before putting out shameful stuff like this. And the kid didn't come up with this concept, it's old news.
It's a story about a student that has a passion for a subject. Those of you that are showing hate to the story or the kid obviously possess tons of jealousy because he's most likely been more productive than you have in your life. Great work kid and keep following your dreams.
You couldn't have made a more generalized unsupported statement.
See what will happen is that now the girls will like the nerd cuz he's famous. Given the choice, which now would you choose?
Its worked for justin beiber
A sturdy, spiraling, branched structure that harnesses the power of the sun... hey, great, he invented the tree. Now all we need is for someone to come up with a way to hold them in place. Maybe make it out of crushed rocks and recycled organic matter or something.
While it may be funny out here to see a solar tree amongst real trees, this could change the landscape for developing countries to add these "solar trees" if kept at a low cost using recycled materials we could bring cheep renewable power not only to the US but also to the world.
What would be awesome is for a development of synthetic photosynthesis on a large scale. If it's good enough for earth, than its good enough for me.
It's fine if you want to point out errors in this kid's work and have something to debate, but to simply hate on this is kid is shameful. He has an idea, don't be rude and make fun of him. You wouldn't want that if you thought you had a good idea. This kid is trying, thats all that matters.
The hate is coming mostly for 1) the media's hero worship of "prodigies", and 2) the instant desire to name a clever kid a "prodigy" in the first place.
the next STEVE JOBS!!!
Steve jobs actually made technology. This kid just uses technology that exists and sticks them on metal sticks in a hope people could give him money.
Lolz.
steve jobs never "made" anything. His engineers did, he just picked the ideas he liked.
I thought of that back when i was in college 15 years ago
Too bad you didn't make one. You coulda woulda shoulda been famous. For 15 minutes anyways,
Right. If true, you didn't act on it, this kid did. The rewards go to the doers, not the people like you.
I though of this years ago too-along with my indoor solar light blinds idea--
Nice job, kid. Keep it up.
a genius, for the majority idiots over here.
Great job; great inspiration; all children should be encouraged to think......anything. Thumbs up to grandpa for being there and his intellect sure supports his parents hard work behind him!
Happy T-giving to all!!!
Bet when you have your idea stolen by big solar and you have to spend the next 20 years fighting that you came up with this idea it wont be so much fun like the girl whose design for 'rusted silk' was stolen by a design house.
But on the good side at least newt gingrich sees you as a worker and your already too big to fit down a chimeny so you have that advantage but you are educated so hes probably not too interested in you..and i take it that as your an invetor your going to expect more then the minimum $2 an hour newt wage.
oh well better luck next time, maybe you can get everything copywritten before the media drop you in it before you can safeguard your 'actually very good idea'
What? Was there a coherent idea anywhere in this post?
Nice irrelevant diatribe, though. You take the cake for CNN's liberal of the day.
Have to agree with LOLCNN on this one. Kind of like giving a trophy to every kid on the baseball team a trophy at the end of the season because they showed up.
Thank you, thank you.
*bows*
Would have been so much better had a solar company come up with the idea....like the story of the kid seeing the truck caught under the bridge...all the elders were stuck until the little kid said, why dont you let the tires down....out of the mouths of babes
Some rich dude's kid with a tie to CNN. Sorry, not that amazing as seen from someone in the industry. Come up with a storage battery/capacitor that has a 99% efficiency rating then I'll be amazed.
He basically made an observation every kid in our country should be able to make. More of a condemnation of our school system from my perspective.
"Copywritten"???? LOL!!!
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
RE: "your already too big to fit down a chimeny...so hes probably not too interested in you..at as your an invetor your going to expect more then the minimum $2 an hour newt wage...copywritten before the media drop..."
A lot to correct there. It's you're (not "your") already; chimney (not "chimeny"); he's (not "hes"); you're (not "your"); copyrighted (not "copywritten").
The kid is smart and at least trying to come up with solutions but nothing of a 'breakthrough' quality here. Many technical inaccuracies in the article.
One example: There is no such thing as an open current voltage, there is such a thing as open circuit voltage. I know it seems like nit picking but for those who work in the electrical-mechanical field there is the correct way to define things like any other field. Would not call brain surgery, brain invasion.
mabe he can get some speech lessions that sttudderring little fucer
...maybe because he's just a kid & he's not exactly a seasoned public speaker like Steve Jobs was? Give the kid a break, you idiot.
Steve Jobs?
LOL. Try Cicero.
At least at 13 he's not just huffing glue and flicking his chub in the bathroom like you were.
has it occurred to you that most thirteen-year-olds wouldn't have the guts to speak in front of that many people in the first place? Be impressed that he's not trying to give the speech from some shadowy corner. Not everyone has public speaking skills, especially when they are thirteen and probably have no experience whatsoever.
Like
why you mad though?
One of those "Why didn't I think of that?" moments.
I'm happy for him, but shouldn't somebody else have come up with this by now?
BD
Because you're gay. That's why.
Its the fact your at home making fun of people (great life) and others are trying to make things better. This kid is 13, he came up with this idea, thats pretty smart and cool. Get a life and get off CNN.
Nah. I'd say writing an opera when you're 13 is impressive. Coming up with "DURR TREES HAVE LEAFS LOL" isn't very profound.
One man once sat under a tree and an apple hit him on the head..he came up gravity, another man had a key on his kite, discovered electric, they dont always have this great 10 year study course after becoming a professor and then get a peace prize before coming up with a suitable idea to make you happy
First, Franklin didn't "discover" electricity.
Second, the apple never hit Newton on the head. He saw one fall.
Third, Newton's theory was impressive not because he came up with the theory of gravity, over the theory of inherent natural motion, but in that it also had "explanatory" powers beyond Aristotelian physics.
This kid? I'd be more impressed if he wrote a symphony. And not any Schoenberg crap either.
Perhaps you can come up with a more impressive invention and then show him up for not being a composer like mozart and his 'twinkle twinkle little star'
LOLCNN, you're a moron.
That may be, my child, but you haven't shown us how and why I "am" a moron.
I was merely pointing out to the poster that the reason Newton's discovery was profound was not "because" he saw an apple fall. The discovery was profound because it overturned 1,500 years of physics, was explainable by Newton in math, and held "greater" explanatory powers than the theory of inherent motion did.
Your move, my son.
actually, LOLCNN seems to be one of the few people actually competent in matters of science among all you observers. The most important part of this article is the criticism of the boy's methodology. Any idiot can come up with an "idea": a bunch of idiots came up with some and called it "creationism". Fact of the matter is, if your methodology and conclusions are flawed you have something very much like creationism.
Sorry, folks, I know many of you renewable energy supporters never took college-level science courses because they were "too hard," but there is a reason why we have to yield to the scientific method. And no matter how many popular science articles you tools read, you're NOT the equal of a scientist. As far as I'm concerned this article is just another pathetic attempt to garner support for solar power in the face of the corruption, inefficiency, and handout mentality of the industry.
you bash this kid for no reason, and even when you give a reason it's a bad one. Then you wonder why someone says you're being rude. In this case saying you are a moron is quite reasonable, as it is the truth. But as for you.... Did you miss out on the part of preschool when they taught you not to call names?Because I'm seeing you all over this site bashing this poor kid...he's thirteen, not a rocket scientist. He had an idea that he thinks is good, and you're being incredibly rude to him just for saying it. Wow. How mature. I'm fourteen, I'm probably at least twenty years younger than you. It shocks me that I am more mature.
The history of scientific advancements is filled with similar moments of spectacular insight. And many of them came from simply observing nature (Newton's apple comes to mind). The reason it wasn't thought of before is simple: most people (even scientists) are too often caught up in their micro-worlds to notice things in the big picture – even things that seem so obvious to us in retrospect. This kid is insightful and unafraid to challenge convention – two qualities that are seriously lacking in most people.
Jealousy sucks, loser.
Good job kid.....hope you can deal with your idea being stolen by a company before your even 14 and then spend the next 20 years trying to prove you came up with it first.
Maybe like the girl who while an intern for some design house came up with 'rusted silk' then got it stolen by them and attributed to their head designer and she never got diddly
The idea won't be stolen because it doesn't work, and he didn't come up with it first, solar panel research has been done for decades and already determined optimal positioning. The kid gets credit for trying, but his idea has been thoroughly debunked. http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2011/08/natural-history-museum-defends-teen-scientists-debunked-discovery/41765/
This kid will mysteriously disappear after a visit from Big Oil.
OMG U R SOOO RIGHT CUZ ALL COMPANIES ARE JUST EVIL AND BAD AND WANT TO EAT BABIES!!!!!!!!
Moron.
I would like to encourage everyone most importantly Aiden. You did a great job bro!! Its possible your projects might have flaws and all but I am sure you can handle the criticism. I sense a great deal of humility in you and hopefully you stay that way. You, and the young ones like you, bring hope and vision to our planet. Let us continue to promote research and development, for a sustainable future... – edz, College of Development Communication, University of the Philippines (ejadol@msn.com)
Sorry, but he looks like a pretty boy and a d0uche.
Wow, thats all you have to say to a kid who is trying to change something. You are a sad person, grow up.
So the mere fact that he's "trying" to "change" something vindicates him? Okay.
yeah, because looks really dictate how smart or insightful someone is
He looks like Justin Bieber though hehehe... But hey to come up with something like this is a sure deviation from the normal of what kids at his age does right? hehe... thats got to be something hehe
gjg: Never said anything about his intelligence. In fact I specifically said "that may be" to whatever it was the original poster said.
Yes, the fact that he is trying to change something for the positive is nice. The fact that it generated a debate and did not get dismissed out of hand is impressive.
What have you contributed to the society that is so great. Trolling forums does not count, moron.
You caught me, Johnny. I am vanquished!
I guess we can all agree that he is an awesome kid, that he is genuinely trying to help our world and that generally his actions and ideas contribute to a positive change for our planet. I guess arguing about details and all, or arguing about things that no one claims otherwise is pointless...
Being facebook friends with this kid's parents must be awful.
Is O'bama going to give him millions of taxpayer dollars, too?
$1 billion*
Better then giving newt $1.8M to say "Oh, I wouldn't do that!"
no, but Halliburton will probably try to buy the technology and squash it
Nah, I'm sure the big oil lobbyists will talk the government out of any subsidies for clever solar research like the kind this young kid has come up with, they'll continue to give subsidies to big oil even as they make billions in profit.
You do realize that there's a reason oil companies get subsidies right?
First, the subsidies are arguably unnecessary. Why? Because they're paid for by taxes. And if they weren't paid by taxes, the difference would be made up by the price at the pump.
Second, however who does that end up hurting the most? That's right: the poor. The ones who can't afford to pay more for gas or for the goods and services (agriculture) that rely on fuel for their production and transportation.
Hence, oil subsidies help the poor.
Shame he hasnt got $1.8M to ask newt if he thinks its a good idea
Great Idea...just hope that birds do not disrupt any of the collection, and maintaining the panels would skyrocket compared to traditional methods.
I am absolutely and thoroughly impressed by this young man! He has certainly instilled some hope in me for the next generation.
I have a feeling this won't be the last we've seen of him. May he go far in life...
It's cool how CNN, you know, explained how the thing worked.
"Why" would his arrangement collect more light than, say, a cone or a convex surface?
Seems rather uninspiring and bland, his theory.
Fibonacci sequence.
If only he were 12...then I'd be impressed. Come on, people...you have got to give up on the prodigy worship. I think he is smart, but the media props him up. Embarrassing
Good for you Aidan! Young people like you are inspiring and give me hope.
These are the people we need to be admiring. Not stupid athletes and child molesting coaches. People who contribute something to society are far more important and relevant than a bunch of worthless men.
The only thing he contributed was a tiny blue tree with tiny black plates on them. Just enough room for birds to defecate on there and other dusts to contribute to the destruction. Hell. He might have created a millions jobs just to keep up with cleaning his pos idea. It's a solar panel shaped like a tree. Whoop i-doo.
And a simple spray process that travels along the limbs and twigs of the contruct could wash away the leaves and as its outside could use collected rainwater to clean it so not need to be plumbed in.....but thats too difficult for you...damn shame..you could have been in inventor but better luck next life
And now this electrical solar panel project turned into a death tree for little children to kill themselves. You too buddy, you could have invented that, but now you killed a bunch of children. I hope you're proud from now on until your "next life."
There is a reason trees are shaped that way. Trees are natural solar energy collectors. All plants are. I would like to see him apply the same idea using the leaf arrangement of different plants to see which is more efficient in various environments. Let's not assume it one-design-fits-all.
If this idea becomes applicable, a one design fits all approach would not work. There is a reason (other than soil conditions and rain) that certain trees are native to certain places. I would think, in order to get the most efficient use, it would make sense to use designs based on native trees/plants. That being said, the implemented designs would have to be based on widespread native trees/plants due to cost.
Trees are shaped that way because leaves are cheap and trees lack motors or muscles to move the leaves to face the sun. Solar panels are very costly, it's much cheaper to build a mechanism to move them to face the sun.
I only know of him from this article, but this kid is a genius. I cannot wait until he's fully grown, by that time he'll not only be a very wealthy man, but also one of our brightest. What am I saying, he already is one our brightest, you go young man, your country is proud to have as their own, the world is better off now because of you!
I doubt it. Chances are he'll be another engineer like myself, eventually he will also learn the difference between open circuit voltage and power. Little doubt he'll get by, but while we're the ones who make the world go behind the scenes, the charismatic CEOs and salesmen take most of the glory in the real world for what us socially awkward engineers create.
BLESS ALL OF THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE YOUNG MAN FOR HELPING THE HUMAN RACE
It's been done, as most has been done. Stop being gullible.
Jim, I want to kick you in the balls as hard as I can.
Read closely. It's really Grandad's idea, but just to get attention (money) Grandad uses his grandson.
I guess it says that if you read it really close after you rearrange the words.
Did you not get a hug today? Wow, have a little heart. it's refreshing to read positive news sometimes.
Kids have such an imagination. Great thought
way 2 go Aidan, u obviously hit on somethin big. Even when Galileo first claimed the earth was round the establishment at the time lockd him up but wasnt he right after all. This kid could b the future of green energy
This kid is a genius! At PR. Like a young balloon boy dad. There's no Fibonacci sequence in trees. While it's enticing to believe some child genius looked up one day and discovered this it's not true as there was nothing to discover. Despite recent Hollywood references to this sequence (check out the Dan Brown movies). Science is about substance over style. It's disconcerting to hear of a prodigious charlatan saving his 'observations' for the media. Not a good harbinger for our internet/media-intensive future. All due respect to the optimists.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractal
Let me guess. That was your best try at being Leonard on "Big bang theory."???? This was not a kid looking for media.. he made a presentation at a Science event. He won and award for his presentation. He agreed to be interviewed. You may be very smart... but I might suggest you are also a bit niave and jealous. He may be a kid, and he will grow out of that... but you are bore, and there is no cure.
It seems your intelligence has surpassed your arrogance, yet your ignorance cannot be trumped! A hater will always hate on someone else's success. Just try for once in life to give credit where credit is due,then shut up and just listen you might learn something.
Phil, I suggest that you look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibonacci_sequence, you will see that the kid is correct.
Guys I'm not a hater, jealous, etc. Kids who do their best in science are to be applauded. Of course. As someone who has the best hopes for the future generation and who takes kids' science endeavors seriously – as this stuff is literally our future – this story pains me. The ratio of style to substance, media presentation to ideas, packaging to humility, is way too high. This sets a bad example for the real heroes: the kids who do their best to learn for learning's sake. In the old days science projects were not followed by dramatic, self marketing websites. Call me old fashioned.
I steil like tesla
Ones theroy become la
I'm seriously amazed, i wish i was this smart when i was 13
Founder
http://www.transolveltd.com
Woah! That website needs a fixin'. If you want a great design, I am a web developer.
http://m.inhabitat.com/solar-ivy-photovoltaic-leaves-climb-to-new-heights/
I wish he could talk to the solar leaf designers.
Great job. New idea and creativity fueling the next generation.
Pretty amazing!!! This might really be our future energy method one day
My only concern would this would be anther excuse for deforestation. Removing trees to erect profit creating devices for electrical power.
No need. There is plenty of open land that would be more ideal. No point in cutting down trees.
I sincerely hope not, however, there are probably some greedy minded individuals who will push the situation to the limit in order to make a profit. Otherwise this young man's idea has great insight.
What is with the knee jerk response that I have to take down the forest. When you have cities like NY and LA were you can mount these leaves on the sides of builds and let tech and environment exist in peace.
What is with idea not letting the environment live????
Why does every Movie have the world in destruction in the future? Why no harmony between Man and Nature?
So humankind has done extraordinary destruction to the planet. Man can change, but unlikely.
We could always bring a bunch of troublesome kids with green spraypaint to make them all nice and pretty with graffiti.
You dont need to deforest, these could be higher then the surrounding trees like the mobile towers
Great job Aidan! Nice work. Your insight and perserverance are inspirational.
Bypass diodes...
to add to my comment, creative though...
Aidan, if you read these comments let me encourage you to keep thinking and keep a kid like spirit. Don't be overly impressed by anyone yourself included...just be amazed and stay amazed at what you learn. I understand.
This is one of reason....why America is so blessed....young minds allow to be young minds at their best......God Bless America that I love.....the way that song goes....Irving Berlin....my brothers....doing well by doing good.....
Right or wrong. Flawed method – blah blah blah. I bet only 1 or 2 people in congress could follow him.
The point is that is at least 1 thoughtful and curious kid in the next generation. We are not all doomed.
Thanks so much for this thoughtful comment, Bill! - John/CNN
It looks like we have a young Rod Blagojevich on our hands!
I am very shocked this guy is impresive, he has proved anybody that has potential and we expect this project to develop this area .
This guy's trying to look like Justin Bieber.
There's no such thing as "Open-Current Voltage". its "Open Circut Voltage" and "Short Circuit Current." Alan's Design may yield more sunlight, but i don't see how it could be 20%-50% more.
It was pretty cleaver of him to notice the Fibonacci Series in trees.
I suspect the increase in power is based on area rather than each solar cell. You can get more solar cells per foot of ground space because you can use vertical space as well as horizontal for mounting solar cells.
He should arrange them like a manji and see if any peeps pop out
Wow..!
Could anyone help me to close back my mouth?
This kid is something real special.
No additional comments are neccesary..!
Nicolai (Nic) Linder
here ;has been a lot of deforestation in the south east of this country during the past twenty years. Its seems "developers" are always looking for ways to make "progress", which usually means removing trees as their first step. It seems the knee jerk response was by these "developers". All for profit. Why not find another excuse to do the same?