‘Immortality’ in hands of genius schoolboy, 11, who wants to ‘replace body parts’

An 11-year-old child genius has finished a physics degree in just over a year – and now wants to achieve “immortality”.

Laurent Simons, from the town of Ostend in Belgium, started primary school as a two-year-old.

By the age of nine, he was studying electrical engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology.

Laurent was on course to become the youngest graduate ever, but didn’t finish his studies due to a disagreement between the university and his parents – who were keen for him to finish his studies before he turned 10.

In April last year, he began courses on classical mechanics and quantum physics, and has since graduated from the University of Antwerp.

Laurent told the ANP news agency: “Immortality, that is my goal. I want to be able to replace as many body parts as possible with mechanical parts.

“I have mapped out a path to get there. Quantum physics – the study of the smallest particles – is the first piece of the puzzle.

“Two things are important in such a study: acquiring knowledge and applying that knowledge.

“To achieve the second, I want to work with the best professors in the world, look inside their brains and find out how they think.”

Laurent put all his other work on hold to study classical mechanics and quantum physics because he “wanted to know everything” about them.

He finished high school in just a year and a half, earning his diploma when he was eight years old.

An Antwerp University spokesperson added: “Simons has been studying for his bachelor’s degree in physics since March 2020, and he now graduated with 85%, which is the highest distinction.

“This year, he also took some courses from the master’s programme. After the summer, he will officially start his master’s degree.”

Back in November, another child prodigy revealed how he got to study at Cambridge University at just 15 years old.

Want all the latest shocking news and views from all over the world straight into your inbox?

We’ve got the best royal scoops, crime dramas and breaking stories – all delivered in that Daily Star style you love.

Our great newsletters will give you all you need to know, from hard news to that bit of glamour you need every day. They’ll drop straight into your inbox and you can unsubscribe whenever you like.

You can sign up here – you won’t regret it…

Arran Fernandez became the youngest undergraduate at the university since 1773, and earlier mastered GCSE Maths at the age of five.

Arran spent eight years at Cambridge University, earning the title of “senior wrangler” for coming top of his year in the maths exam, before completing a Masters and a PhD in 2018.

Now, he is an assistant professor of mathematics at the Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) in Cyprus, Cambridgeshire Live reported.