Long Beach, California (CNN) -- Taylor Wilson is going to create a safer source of nuclear energy, help reduce the world's stockpile of nuclear weapons, screen container ships for weapons and power manned missions to other planets. But first ... he has to graduate high school in May. 

Jack Andraka is going to bring his 3-cent screening test for pancreatic, ovarian and lung cancer to market -- an alternative to a standard $800 test. But Jack, 16, hasn't been to high school much lately and isn't even sure he'll graduate. 

The two teenagers with Justin Bieber style haircuts wowed the 1,400 people who attended TED2013 this week, fitting the conference's theme: "The Young. The Wise. The Undiscovered." They were among a number of youthful speakers who Time magazine's Ruth Davis Konigsberg called "some of the biggest showstoppers at the annual event." 

By contrast, some of the older voices onstage struck notes that were far less hopeful. Northwestern University economist Robert Gordon declared that the era of strong economic growth in the United States is over -- as America faces the headwinds of an aging population, debt, inequality and educational weaknesses; he argued that it's hard to foresee innovations that could have the transformative effect electricity, indoor plumbing and the internal combustion engine had in powering growth in the past century. 

Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, calling for a private sector-funded "race to the top" among states, lamented the inability of Washington politicians to develop a national energy strategy. She got laughs when she noted that Congress' approval rating is worse than lice, root canals and Donald Trump (although better than that of gonorrhea and meth labs). 
How many people were at the event?
What was it?
Did anyone impress them?
Who?
Did they resemble anyone?
Whom?
How?
Were other speakers as cheerful as them?
What were their presentations like?
Did any politicians speak?
How many?
Who was from Michigan?
What office has she held?
Did people find her to be funny?
What happens in May?
Will Jack?
Did the event have a certain theme?
What was it?
1,400
wowed the 1,400 people who attended 
TED2013
1,400 people who attended TED2013
yes
The two teenagers with Justin Bieber style haircuts wowed 
two teenagers
The two teenagers with Justin Bieber style haircuts wowed
yes
The two teenagers with Justin Bieber style haircuts
Justin Bieber
The two teenagers with Justin Bieber style haircuts
their haircuts
The two teenagers with Justin Bieber style haircuts
no
By contrast, some of the older voices onstage struck notes that were far less hopeful.
less hopeful.
By contrast, some of the older voices onstage struck notes that were far less hopeful.
yes
Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm,
at least two
By contrast, some of the older voices onstage struck notes that were far less hopeful. Northwestern University economist Robert Gordon declared that the era of strong economic growth in the United States is over -- as America faces the headwinds of an aging population, debt, inequality and educational weaknesses; he argued that it's hard to foresee innovations that could have the transformative effect electricity, indoor plumbing and the internal combustion engine had in powering growth in the past century. 

Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, calling for a private sector-funded "race to the top" among states, lamented the inability of Washington politicians to develop a national energy strategy. She got laughs when she noted that Congress' approval rating is worse than lice, root canals and Donald Trump (although better than that of gonorrhea and meth labs). 
Jennifer Granholm
Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm
Governor
Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm,
yes
 She got laughs
Taylor might graduate
he has to graduate high school in May
he's not sure
But Jack, 16, hasn't been to high school much lately and isn't even sure he'll graduate. 
yes
the conference's theme: "The Young. The Wise. The Undiscovered."
The Young. The Wise. The Undiscovered
 conference's theme: "The Young. The Wise. The Undiscovered." 