[saneshark]

I hope someone at caterpillar is taking notice and offers a scholarship to Hope. This reminds me of the story of Srinivasa Ramanujuan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srinivasa_Ramanujan

Could you imagine a future where these massive machines are controlled by remote operators running green, all electric energy sources?

[qazpot]

Funny this reminds me of Ahmed Mohamed Clock Incident, where the kid exploits his popularity to get internship at twitter, google and a trip to nasa and white house. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Mohamed_clock_incident

[lultimouomo]

Maybe I'm reading too much into your comment, but I really dislike the implication of the words "exploits his popularity".

This is a 14yo which was gratuitously accused of being a terrorist by his teachers - the very people that we as a society tell kids to trust and look up to.

He was handcuffed and arrested, he went through a detention intake process, mugshot and all.

The word exploit really does not sound right.

[bigodbiel]

the kid assembled a "suitcase bomb" prop and kept showing it off to his friends during class. His teacher told him to stop, he didn't and kept being disruptive. Obviously calling the cops on his bad behaviour is overkill, but the he is no wunderkind as portrayed by the media (and even the WH).

[lultimouomo]

For the record, this is the thing we are talking about:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5e/Ahmed_Mohamed...

[jacobush]

Yeah, gotta nip that counterculture in the bud.

[serf]

his teacher was trying to do him a favor.

he literally said something like 'that's nice but it looks like a bomb. don't show anyone else.' -- it doesn't seem to me to be unsupportive, just worried. I don't think a teacher would say something like that in confidence with a student unless that student had a certain rapport with the teacher.

[cr0sh]

To me, the story reminds me of "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" (William Kamkwamba):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Kamkwamba

Here's to Hope's similar advancement as he grows, studies, and learns.

[theoh]

The kid is good at constructing mechanical toys. But let's be clear, this is hands-on mechanics of very simple mechanisms. He is also, as far as the video shows, imitating mechanisms that he has already seen in full scale machinery. It's a feel good story, but do not nominate this guy as a future game-changer just yet. Precociousness is not an indicator of future potential.