High school student discovers potential of Archimedes’ death ray
(CNN) — Archimedes, often called the father of mathematics, was one of the most famous inventors of ancient Greece, with some of his ideas and principles still in use today. However, one invention that scientists have long debated is the existence of the death ray, a supposed weapon of war composed of mirrors designed to focus sunlight towards a target, causing it to burn.
Thirteen-year-old Brenden Sener from London, Ontario, recently won two gold medals and an award from the London Public Library for his miniature version of the contraption. Inspired by his fascination with the Greek polymath, Sener created a project to recreate the Archimedean screw and then went on to study the death ray.
Historical writings suggest that Archimedes used “burning mirrors” to set fire to anchored ships during the siege of Syracuse from 214 to 212 BC. Sener’s experiment involved placing a heat lamp in front of concave mirrors, hypothesizing that each added mirror would increase the temperature of the target.
During his tests with different bulb wattages, Sener found that each additional mirror significantly increased the temperature of the target. His findings, published in the Canadian Science Fair Journal, attracted the attention of Cliff Ho, chief scientist at Sandia National Laboratories, who praised the project as an assessment of fundamental processes.
While some theories about the death ray have been discredited due to the maneuverability of ships during battle, Sener’s experiment provides an interesting perspective on Archimedes’ invention. Despite the limitations of the death ray’s viability, Sener’s project has been commended for its documentation and potential as a basis for further discussion among students and professionals.
Sener’s mother, Melanie, expressed pride in her son’s scientific curiosity and thirst for knowledge, while Sener himself envisions a future as a scientist in engineering, bioengineering, or medicine. His innovative experiment sheds new light on an ancient mystery and highlights the enduring influence of Archimedes’ pioneering inventions.