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Journalist! By JEFF LAGRONE Gamecock Staff Writer Ronald R. Young II's ambition U?>.U -U-t 1 - i - ?? iu icaui iinutu&rapiiy ai a small school certainly seems common enough. So are his frustrated efforts to apply the bachelor's degree in journalism he earned at the University of South Florida two years ago. Young Young recently did something, however, that is very uncommon. While working as a graduate assistant in the USC College of Journalism photography lab and waiting to take his master's examinations in mass com- | munications, he designed a solar reactor which may be widely used | in industry. THE DEVICE magnifies sunlight to create super-heated I ci ib r Delivery < 1 starting c FREE DELI1 LOOK LIKE FRED'S O I Hairstyling for < I 2813 Devine Street Call , offer exp a graduate; steam, generating electricity. A mirror follows the path of the sun, directing its rays through a Fresnel, or grooved plastic lens. The lens concentrates the sunlight onto a conductor rod submerged in pressurized water and housed in a vaporizing chamber. As the conductor heats the water surrounding, it is chan^gd to i super heated steam, whichlcan be drawn off and used for heating, or to drive a turbine. Young said the use of sunlight to ? generate electricity is a sensible alternative to more dangerous and costly methods. "I'M VERY MUCH opposed to nuclear energy as an energy CnilrPP h<V>!IHGa ftf tho (pomonrlniis VTA UIV UVUICIIUVUO potential of just one reactor accidentally exploding," he said. "We're talking about the possibility of entire states being wiped out. I don't think people realize what they are allowing to go on." "We've got plenty of sunlight and plenty of water," Young said. "What I foresee is the idea of using our two most common natural resources to make cheap electricity. There's nothing expensive DELIVERY 254-8800 II weekend it 1 0:00 a.m. | VERY 765-0813 | - ?*A PRINCESS SIHOAFRSG, ArrfP: N DEVINE 3uys and Dolls ? >56-0839 for Appointment Iras May 1 [ assistant in about the idea. When people realize that this can be done, I think we'll be really better off," he said. THE CARDS are stacked against the independent inventor in the United States, according to Young. I Thursi I R vents solar A shortage of money delayed the completion of his reactor for five years, he said. 'mere is no government agency, nobody out to help the independent inventor," Young said. "It seems like the big cor ?i_n 101S. Main St, Presents: day, Friday & Sal April 20th-22nd lock Mountc n. . 11?? n I ricrure iu Kequirea Phone 771-9916 reactor porations-who can afford the research-keep locking in on all the new ideas. I think it's bad." YOUNG'S INVENTION is protected by an application pending in the U.S. Patent Office. urday I MM I 1111 1 J