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15-Year-Old Invents Algae-Powered Energy System

Posted by samzenpus on from the muck-machine dept.

Mike writes "Signaling a bright future for sustainable energy, 15-year-old Javier Fernandez-Han has created a remarkable algae-powered energy system that is capable of producing food and fuel, treating waste, containing greenhouse gases, and releasing oxygen. Dubbed the VERSATILE system, the project recently netted him a $20,000 scholarship for winning this year's Invent Your World Challenge."

20 of 230 comments (clear)

  1. Freakin' Prodigies... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Making the rest of us look bad and all.

    1. Re:Freakin' Prodigies... by interkin3tic · · Score: 4, Funny

      What are you talking about? The competition was "Invent Your World Challenge." Kid makes an energy system. Missed the mark entirely: algae power is not a world.

      Kid needs to pay more attention next time.

    2. Re:Freakin' Prodigies... by Shadow+of+Eternity · · Score: 2, Funny

      Oh please we all know he just looked under his bed for something at the last minute and scraped that off.

      --
      A bullet may have your name on it but splash damage is addressed "To whom it may concern."
    3. Re:Freakin' Prodigies... by Hognoxious · · Score: 2, Funny

      looked like a straight case of copying/plagerising [...] it is what it is - plagerism.

      You're allowed to use the same spellings as other people, that isn't counted as plagiarism.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  2. Nothing new? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    An anaerobic digester for sewage and food scraps

    Isn't that basically what Cowboy Neal is?

  3. Mutant! by Baldrson · · Score: 3, Funny

    This kid is obviously the love child of Jon Katz and Natalie Portman.

    --
    Seastead this.
    1. Re:Mutant! by Slur · · Score: 2, Funny

      This kid is obviously the love child of Dean Kamen and HRP-4C.

      There, fixed that for you.

      --
      -- thinkyhead software and media
  4. Re:Vapourware by Dunbal · · Score: 4, Funny

    we're thoroughly impressed by his innovative spirit.

    Lies. What really impressed them was a 9 letter acronym like VERSATILE.

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  5. Oooh... How I have got the fish tank for him! by spafbi · · Score: 2, Funny

    Since his system uses algae, I bet my fish tank could feed and power a small country.

  6. Re:Yawn... by Jurily · · Score: 5, Funny

    All that he has done here is take a bunch of stuff that is known to work, but not economically, and tied it all together with a pretty diagram.

    I do that too, just not with diagrams. I'm a programmer.

  7. damned ambitious parents by onionlee · · Score: 2, Funny

    posting about their kids on /. ....

  8. Re:"Play pump" by houstonbofh · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just so long as it's not a "love pump."

    My God! With that, slashdot users could power the universe!

  9. The absolutely necessary obnoxious remark... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Eventually, this kid will become a patent attorney like the rest of them.

  10. Re:"Play pump" by catmistake · · Score: 1, Funny

    play pump... a... play... pump.... you mean masterbation could solve our energy crisis? ... did NOT see that comeing...

    --
    The Admin and the Engineer
  11. Re:Biological systems suck by Max+Littlemore · · Score: 5, Funny

    Farming is a noble occupation

    No, farming is what commoners do. Warring and collecting tax and rent are noble occupations.

    Jeez, you guys have been without a proper monarchy for so long you've forgotten the basics.

    --
    I don't therefore I'm not.
  12. Re:"Play pump" by stuboogie · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ask the kids performing "arts and crafts" at the Nike factories.

  13. Re:Oblig. XKCD by Acapulco · · Score: 4, Funny

    Purity

    --
    Slashdot. Unreadable news to annoy nerds. - wonkey_monkey
  14. Re:Yawn... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    You use comments and assembly language? Real Programmers use a hex editor and write the machine code directly!
    ...
    You use a hex editor? Real Programmers....
    ...
    Obligatory xkcd comic about releasing a butterfly
    ...
    emacs.

  15. Re:"Play pump" by houghi · · Score: 2, Funny

    If I actually WANT a kid to eat ice cream, he isn't going to want any. If I WANT him to eat candy, he's going to be suspicious. Ask any parent.Just tell them they are not allowed to play with it from 14:00 to 18:00.

    --
    Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
  16. Re:He's a 15yo boy... by dzfoo · · Score: 2, Funny

    I say, chain them to the PlayPump!
            http://www.inhabitots.com/2009/03/05/play-pump-the-merry-go-round-water-pump/

            -dZ.

    --
    Carol vs. Ghost
    ...Can you save Christmas?