7th Grade Genius collecting more power with Fibonacci Sequence!

[gunug]

This is a story about a 13 year old from New York state who has harnessed the design principals of the Fibonacci Sequence to collect more solar energy for longer in a given day!  I think this is a story that I heard on NPR a week or two back but there it is on the America Museum of Natural History website:

QUOTE

My investigation asked the question of whether there is a secret formula in tree design and whether the purpose of the spiral pattern is to collect sunlight better. After doing research, I put together test tools, experiments and design models to investigate how trees collect sunlight. At the end of my research project, I put the pieces of this natural puzzle together, and I discovered the answer. But the best part was that I discovered a new way to increase the efficiency of solar panels at collecting sunlight!

http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngna...2011/aidan.html

This is a fantastic science project; makes me glad to belong to the same race as Aiden!

[Xairbusdriver]

I am impressed with the writing (and passion for learning!) as much as with his scientific method! Thanks for the link!

[dolphin]

I know that a lot of things I read say that the United States is way behind in math and science. However, stories like this restore my faith in our youth. If only we could produce MORE of these young geniuses. Great story...thanks Gunug for the link.