I recently attended a school reunion and met up with a woman whom I hardly know as an individual, but know well by her impressive professional achievements. She’s famous, in fact. Really famous.

In fact, as I was driving to this reunion, I’d thought of her, of how much she’s accomplished, how impressed I am. Oh, and I had a little twinge that I haven’t soared to anywhere near those heights. But so be it.

When I arrived, I pinned on my obligatory year-of-graduation badge and began to talk with people. At one point, the very accomplished woman came over to say hi to me. We chatted for a moment, then she squinted at my badge. “Oh,” she said, clearly dismayed. “I’m the OLDEST one here!”

Wow. Here she was, smart, successful, well-known… and worried she graduated a couple of years before me and others at the party. It goes to show that no matter how much we’ve done, we’re still just whoever we are, insecurities and all. Is that what it means to be human?

Well, it’s not just the sun that’s brilliant… William Yuan, age 12, from Portland Oregon just invented a revolutionary solar cell (12 year old invents solar cell).

Imagine thinking about solar cells, to this level of detail, at age 12. Imagine following through and inventing a new one. It’s one step toward viable use of solar energy. From a seventh grader.