Title: Canadian Teenager Reimagines Archimedes’ Mythical Death Ray
In this article, we delve into the story of Brenden Sener, a middle school student from Ontario, Canada, who brought to life the ancient concept of Archimedes’ death ray. Despite the lack of archaeological evidence supporting its existence, Sener’s innovative project sheds light on the feasibility of this legendary invention.
Archimedes, the renowned mathematician of Ancient Greece, proposed the intriguing idea of harnessing the Sun’s energy to create a death ray. Inspired by this concept, Sener crafted a miniature version of the death ray using light and mirrors, earning him multiple awards for his ingenuity.
While historical accounts suggest the possibility of the death ray being used in ancient battles, such as the siege of Syracuse, Sener’s experiments demonstrate the potential effectiveness of such a device. By focusing the Sun’s rays through concave mirrors onto a target, Sener was able to replicate the heating effect described in ancient texts.
Sener’s fascination with Archimedes’ inventions began during a family trip to Greece, where he first encountered the genius of the ancient mathematician. Through his research and experimentation, Sener aims to showcase the innovative spirit of Archimedes and his contributions to ancient technology.
Experts like Cliff Ho from Sandia National Laboratories have praised Sener’s scientific endeavors, acknowledging the plausibility of the death ray while questioning its practicality in ancient warfare. Sener’s passion for exploring ancient concepts highlights the lasting impact of Archimedes’ visionary ideas on modern scientific inquiry.
According to his paper, the MythBusters series tested various scenarios three times, but were unsuccessful in setting a boat on fire each time. Factors such as moving ships and clouds blocking the Sun’s heat are believed to have hindered their efforts. CNN reported on a 2005 experiment at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where students successfully burned a boat once, but failed in a subsequent attempt. Sener finds that the cumulative testing lends credibility to the feasibility of the concept, which is all that matters to this middle school student.
