Sylar
10-05-2013, 05:39 PM
Anyone else catch the story on 14 year old Jacob Barnett on BBC breakfast this morning?
Diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome at a very young age, he was told he would never read, be able to tie his shoes or live a normal life as his autism was deemed to be moderate to severe.
He was accepted as a full student at the University of Purdue Indiana at only 10 years old and now 14 is about to begin work on his PhD and also as a paid researcher, making him the youngest astrophysicist ever!
http://tedxteen.com/speakers-performers/tedxteen-2012/93-jacob-barnett
His work on PT-symmetry in lattice structures was recently just published in the Physical Review A journal (http://pra.aps.org/pdf/PRA/v84/i2/e024103). I have an extensive background in physics and for the most part I understand Quantum Theory, the equations which underpin it and their applications. When I read his paper, I can follow it without too much difficulty but what I find staggering is that a 14 year old kid derived, proofed and confirmed these equations from the depths of his mind! Astrophysicists have been working on PT-symmetry in impure N-site boundary lattices for years to no avail and along comes this little genius and advances the science substantially!
A truly inspirational story and I just hope he doesn't burn out or succumb to the undoubted spotlight he's going to find himself in. If he manages to keep on an even path, a Nobel prize absolutely awaits!
Diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome at a very young age, he was told he would never read, be able to tie his shoes or live a normal life as his autism was deemed to be moderate to severe.
He was accepted as a full student at the University of Purdue Indiana at only 10 years old and now 14 is about to begin work on his PhD and also as a paid researcher, making him the youngest astrophysicist ever!
http://tedxteen.com/speakers-performers/tedxteen-2012/93-jacob-barnett
His work on PT-symmetry in lattice structures was recently just published in the Physical Review A journal (http://pra.aps.org/pdf/PRA/v84/i2/e024103). I have an extensive background in physics and for the most part I understand Quantum Theory, the equations which underpin it and their applications. When I read his paper, I can follow it without too much difficulty but what I find staggering is that a 14 year old kid derived, proofed and confirmed these equations from the depths of his mind! Astrophysicists have been working on PT-symmetry in impure N-site boundary lattices for years to no avail and along comes this little genius and advances the science substantially!
A truly inspirational story and I just hope he doesn't burn out or succumb to the undoubted spotlight he's going to find himself in. If he manages to keep on an even path, a Nobel prize absolutely awaits!