4-year work takes gravity of ambition By Katherine Cromer of the News staff

PALM CITY - Chris Cook has one more year to prove the worth of his work .

For the past four years. the Martin County High School junior has fumbled with crude lasers, shaky mirrors and computers much too small to do the job.

But his recent second-place ranking at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, combined with the $168,000 he received in college schol­arships, has spurred Cook's drive to per­fect his experiment.

His project uses lasers and mirrors to measure gravity waves, theoretical dis­turbances in the Earth's gravitational force that might be caused by massive disruptions such as a star exploding or two black holes colliding.

Cook first attended the science fair three years ago.

"The first year. I was really unpre­pared,'' Cook said . 'This project has been continued for the past four years."

Jeri Eckler, the district's science fair coordinator. traveled with Cook to Fort Worth. Texas for the fair, May 10-17, and honored him at Tuesday night's school board meeting.

' 'He is just outstanding," she said .

Chris Cook of Martin County High School took second place in the physics competition at the Intel International Science Fair, which was in Fort Worth, Texas, last month. Cook has been offered $168,000 in college scholarships • so far.

Cook's mother, Cathy, who claims she can barely find the "on" button for her home personal computer, said she is baffled by her son ·s passion for science and computer technology .

But Cook attributes his science know-how to his grandfather, who taught him "how things work ."

After studying radio astronomy and becoming a licensed ham radio operator, Cook became interested in gravity and set out to prove whether a laser interfe­rometer, which uses lasers and mirrors to detect vibrations, could detect gravity

waves from space. "My biggest problem is lack of re­

sources," Cook said . ··J built the interfe­rometer myself."

On a cluttered desk in his bedroom, Cook hooked together three computers to create a "poor man\ supercomputer" that can compile and analyze his data.

So far, Cook has found - some­thing. He has determined that some sort of ripple went through his instruments.

"I can't definitely prove that it was a

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gra,)tational \\ a\ e:· he said. "You've got to prO\ e that it's coming from space ...

In order to get more specific re­sults, Cook needs better equip­ment, and about $18.000 in com­puter equipment. He's working on getting grant money and perhaps visiting some local laboratories that could help him with his equipment needs.

Martin County High School junior Chris Cook uses lasers and mirrors to measure gravity waves, theoretical disturbances in the Earth's gravitational force that might be caused by massive disruptions such as a star exploding or two black holes colliding.

If he gets what he needs, Cook plans to return to the science fair next year in Philadelphia, with hopes of winning first place.

"At this pcm· I really cannot excel the pro_·-~· anymore," he said. "Witho :he money, I'm dead."