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| Science & Technology |
| The Boy Who Played With Fusion |
| 2012-02-15 |
| Posted by:Grunter |
#8 There's just something deliciously ironic about this:We land in Reno and make our way toward the baggage claim. “I hope that box held up,” Taylor says, as we approach the carousel. “And if it didn’t, I hope they give us back the radioactive goodies scattered all over the airplane.” Soon the box appears, adorned with a bright strip of tape and a note inside explaining that the package has been opened and inspected by the TSA. “They had no idea,” Taylor says, smiling, “what they were looking at.” The thought of TSA agents dutifully opening the packgage, inspecting the radioactive remnants of a thermonuclear weapon, then inserting a note and passing it along it almost too good to be real. It'll be years before I stop laughing about this every time I'm in an airport. |
| Posted by: AzCat 2012-02-15 15:24 |
| #7 Grunter your post made my day. Where I lived for a time were several bright young people. Science fairs and home projects were the norm. It could have been viewed as obsessive compulsive disorter. We were young so no one bothered us. The key ingredient was we had parents that worked in technical or were instructors. The sky was the limit. They left us alone doing what was thought to be normal. I am not saying I was bright but others of us were. We each made a contribution. These were some of the best of times. To us the Moon was just the first step. We have gone to sleep. I think of where we could be, even today. Remember those of you who have these gifts, you have impact upon those around you. |
| Posted by: Dale 2012-02-15 14:03 |
| #6 There's an entire community of people who build these sorts of devices; if I had time I'd do it myself. He might as well have the learning experiences like this while he has the free time to do so. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2012-02-15 11:32 |
| #5 I'm not really fond of wunderkinder, Mrs Schultz. But, some of them do grow up. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2012-02-15 05:25 |
| #4 It sounds like his parents have managed to gently guide him in a positive direction. It sounds like his parents failed to teach him the meaning of the word "no". I predict that his career will come to a halt when he has to justify his projects to people who will say no. Then he'll probably wind up failed and embittered, working on some loony theory. See The Genius from Another Dimension. I hate these stories. When I was very young I was like this kid. My parents laughed and told me to Shut Up and Sit Down. I cannot imagine the cataclysm that would have resulted if I had announced at Thanksgiving that I'd be taking blood samples. It would've involved a sample of blood being drawn from my backside, that's for damned sure. |
| Posted by: Angie Schultz 2012-02-15 02:26 |
| #3 Original link worked for me. Maybe a mod fixed it. The kid will be one to keep track of. It sounds like his parents have managed to gently guide him in a positive direction. May his potential benefit all mankind. |
| Posted by: tipover 2012-02-15 01:41 |
| #2 Try this, phil_b: link |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2012-02-15 00:36 |
| #1 Page not found |
| Posted by: phil_b 2012-02-15 00:23 |