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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."

13 of 230 comments (clear)

  1. Vapourware by BierGuzzl · · Score: 3, Informative

    FTA: "The algae-powered system hasnâ(TM)t yet been built, however, and skeptics will remain until it is. Even if FernÃndez-Hanâ(TM)s design doesnâ(TM)t pan out as planned, weâ(TM)re thoroughly impressed by his innovative spirit."

  2. "Play pump" by fiannaFailMan · · Score: 4, Informative

    A pump powered by children playing? I did a double take when I saw that. Then there was a link to it. I tip my hat to the person who thought of that. Bloody ingenious.

    --
    Drill baby drill - on Mars
    1. Re:"Play pump" by Zouden · · Score: 2, Informative

      The advertising supports the pump. Read the article.

      --
      "A week in the lab saves an hour in the library"
  3. And now the punch line of the article? by EkriirkE · · Score: 3, Informative

    "The algae-powered system hasnâ(TM)t yet been built..."

    --
    from 09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
    to 45 2F 6E 40 3C DF 10 71 4E 41 DF AA 25 7D 31 3F
  4. Re:There's only by copponex · · Score: 2, Informative

    It's a merry-go-round. Kids spin around, laugh, and spin some more all the time at local parks in the States. Even in China and Malaysia, when they're not manufacturing Nikes for pennies per hour, I'm sure they might like to feel like normal children, and play outside on a merry-go-round.

    If it suits you to be a non-contributing little shit and sneer at anyone who tries, then so be it. But at least stay quiet while you're doing it.

  5. Re:There's only by cplusplus · · Score: 3, Informative

    Play pumps are being installed in many places in Africa, and have been for over 5 years now. They're a pretty big success so far. Frontline on PBS did a piece a while ago about them: FRONTLINE - South Africa

    --
    "False hope is why we'll never run out of natural resources!" - Lewis Black
  6. Re:Mutant! by protest_boy · · Score: 2, Informative

    I'll bet this guy is is dad.

    http://report.rice.edu/sir/faculty.detail?p=6098EF446D2F9399

  7. Re:Yawn... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    I didn't invent anything this clever when I was 15. How about you?

    By 15, I was already able to launch squirrels more than 200 metres!

  8. Slashdot: News for aAngry Nerds. by karlwilson · · Score: 2, Informative

    What's the problem here? Slashdot: News for aAngry Nerds.

  9. Re:Freakin' Prodigies... by Ex-MislTech · · Score: 2, Informative

    Its worse than that, he just copied some Phds work off youtube:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hioZ7C6HLs

    --
    google "32 trillion offshore needs IRS attention"
  10. Re:Saudiswillkillhim tag by harl · · Score: 2, Informative

    What are you talking about?

    You can buy a Hyosung GT-250 Comet for ~$2,700.

    They get around 112.9 mpg with standard gas.

    --
    I find being offended by me offensive.
  11. Re:Saudiswillkillhim tag by Nocturna81 · · Score: 3, Informative

    http://www.dieselmotorfiets.nl/ Here you go, this is the place they make them. And guess what, it's for sale for 17500 euros. Do you have any other Myths you need Busted(TM) ?

  12. Re:Yawn... by ivucica · · Score: 2, Informative

    Y'mean, s/ informs /, informs /g?