NY Genius Suggests Oil Leak Solution

Long Island resident Alia Sabur—who started her Ph.D. at 14 and became the youngest-ever college professor—has a suggestion for the massive oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico: surround the pipe with deflated tires, insert them into the riser and then re-inflate once inside to seal off the leaks. Sabur says the tires might not fully inflate once inside the pipe, but thinks it would be enough to seal the leaks. BP has tried a number of other unconventional solutions, including pumping mud, golf balls, garbage and tire scraps into the leak, all of which have failed to contain the gushing oil. Sabur said she hadn’t suggested anything earlier because she “figured experts would know more about it,” but when their ideas didn’t pan out, she started to brainstorm.