While we’re debunking things …

I swear I am not picking on this guy, but on the same blog that I found the radar-mageddon asteroid post, I found a post about a 13 year-old who cracked a secret to solar energy by looking at trees and learning about the Fibonacci sequence. It led to a “breakthrough” science project, boy becomes hero, will be rich and marry a model, etc.

I won’t link to it, because I don’t want to call him out. But many of you have probably read about it recently.

“He was observing trees, and noticed how the branches held a spiral pattern, and wondered what would be the use of that. Looking at the Fibonacci series, which describes spirals, he also noticed that tree leaves adhered to the spiral sequence. This led him to propose arranging solar panels like oak trees leaves, a manner which would be 20 to 50 percent more efficient, energy-wise. The American Museum of Natural History rewarded him with a Young Naturalist award.”

Ok, cool. But his math was a little flawed, and although he’s inspiring, looks like it isn’t a “breakthrough” after all.

I’ll stop crushing everyone’s fun now and we can get back to regularly scheduled programming.

27 Notes/ Hide

  1. feverishandpeaking reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  2. oldmanyellsatcloud reblogged this from jtotheizzoe and added:
    tried to find other sources...were citing that study. Dang.
  3. feelmyfeels reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  4. bonedust said: not all science is sensationalist. it’s good to debunk bad science and bad journalism. it’s the only way people learn. :)
  5. jtotheizzoe posted this

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