Buzz
Children are often seen as fragile beings, entirely reliant on their parents or adult guardians to survive. Due to their limited life experience and understanding of the world around them, they are often not thought of as capable thinkers or independent questioners.
Yet, while kids and teenagers may view the world with a more innocent and naive lens, their boundless curiosity and creativity open up new possibilities that adults sometimes cannot imagine.
Thus, when these ten young minds recognized a problem in the world—or even within their own families—they took action and dedicated themselves to creating solutions. From headphones that play music while also helping treat ear infections to shoes that track wandering dementia patients, and even a cane that guides its user through their surroundings, these 10 children and teens are undoubtedly making a difference, one brilliant invention at a time.
10. Alexis Lewis
In 2011, Somalia faced a devastating famine triggered by a severe drought. The situation was made worse by the country's ongoing political instability, further exacerbating the crisis.
In the wake of the famine, many parents sought refuge in camps and emergency food centers. However, as the journey took its toll, with children suffering from malnutrition and growing weaker, countless mothers were forced to abandon their dying children along the way.
Upon learning about the heartbreaking plight of Somali refugees, 12-year-old Alexis (formerly Chase) Lewis from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, felt compelled to act. And so she did. She created the Rescue Travois.
The Rescue Travois is a collapsible, triangular device on wheels, built with a bamboo frame and netting. Its unique design enables it to be shipped in a flattened form and even air-dropped to those in need.
Alexis Lewis’s Rescue Travois will help ensure the safety of children and families in the future if they need to reach a refugee camp. Additionally, the travois provides essential support to rural communities in Africa, aiding daily tasks and helping those in need of medical care access timely treatment.
Lewis also went on to create the Emergency Mask Pod—an innovative football-shaped canister that holds a smoke mask, goggles, and an LED light strip. This device can be thrown through a window, providing vital help to those trapped in a fire.
9. Leanne Fan
Ear infections are a frequent issue among infants and toddlers, but if untreated, they can lead to permanent hearing loss. Unfortunately, children in low- and middle-income nations are at an even greater risk due to limited access to medical care and preventive treatments.
However, 14-year-old Leanne Fan from San Francisco, California, strongly believed that 'healthcare should be available to everyone because it’s our health and it is a matter of life and death.'
To make a difference, Fan began researching the work of Niels Finsen, who won the Nobel Prize in 1903 for using light therapy to treat diseases like lupus vulgaris, the most common form of tuberculosis. Fan realized she could apply this method to help impoverished children and adults suffering from ear infections who lack access to medical treatment.
This inspired Fan to create a pair of affordable headphones, aptly named Finsen Headphones. These headphones use blue light therapy not only to detect but also to treat ear infections in children, with the potential to reduce hearing loss caused by ear infections by 60%.
However, Fan understood that children with ear infections might not be willing to wear the headphones, so she improved her design. She made them so that children could enjoy listening to their favorite music while receiving treatment.
In October 2022, Fan was honored with the title of America’s Top Young Scientist after entering her headphones into the 3M Young Scientist Challenge. Along with this prestigious recognition, she was awarded a $25,000 cash prize and an exciting destination trip.
8. Kristopher Bayog
Though dementia is not classified as a 'disease,' it is a disabling condition that affects memory, the ability to think critically, and even the capacity to make daily decisions. Furthermore, over 55 million people around the world live with dementia, and there is no cure available at present.
At just eight years old, Kristopher Bayog from Watsonville, California, witnessed the challenges of dementia firsthand, as his grandmother battled the condition. However, his worry for her safety deepened when she became separated from the family during his cousin's graduation. This concern sparked an idea that would not only assist those with dementia but also ease the burden on their families: the creation of the 'D Shoes.'
Bayog's design for the 'D Shoes' was inspired by the car key fob he had seen his father use to locate their vehicle in a crowded parking lot. The shoes incorporate three AAA batteries, which power a doorbell-like alarm system placed in the soles. Additionally, speakers are embedded in the heels of the shoes.
When a person with dementia wearing the shoes becomes disoriented or lost, a transmitter keychain button can be pressed, triggering an alarm that can locate the wearer from up to 1,000 feet (approximately 0.3 km) away.
The 'D Shoes' are not Bayog's only innovation. He is also developing a device that converts saltwater into safe drinking water, and he is investigating how the natural water-retaining properties of tropical plants can be used to create sustainable, reusable water bottles.
7. Bishop Curry
Since 1990, more than 1,051 children have tragically died after being left in hot cars, whether intentionally or accidentally. In some cases, children gain access to vehicles on their own. Regardless of the circumstances, the heartbreaking result remains unchanged—the untimely death of an innocent child.
When 11-year-old Bishop Curry from McKinney, Texas, saw a local news story about a six-month-old from his community who passed away after being left in a hot car, he was determined to find a solution to prevent such devastating incidents in the future.
Curry's creation, called 'Oasis,' is a device designed to be attached to either a car seat or a headrest. Using GPS technology, Oasis can detect when a vehicle has stopped, whether a child is still in the car seat, and when the interior temperature of the vehicle starts rising.
Once the vehicle's temperature reaches a dangerous level, a fan activates and begins blowing cool air toward the child. In addition, once the fan is running, Oasis uses its Wi-Fi connection to alert the child's parents. If the parents don't respond, a notification is sent to local authorities with the child's GPS location, informing them of a potential emergency.
6. Kylie Simonds
Rhabdomyosarcoma is a form of cancer that affects soft tissue, connective tissue, or bones, and it is unfortunately the most prevalent type of soft tissue cancer in children.
Fortunately, eight-year-old Kylie Simonds from Naugatuck, Connecticut, triumphed over her rhabdomyosarcoma diagnosis. After enduring 46 weeks of chemotherapy, radiation, and other surgeries, she is now in remission.
Although Simonds no longer undergoes chemotherapy, she is well aware of the mobility challenges faced by others receiving chemotherapy or transfusions. She often felt too weak to walk and would trip over the IV pole wires when attempting to move.
When she was 11, Simonds was given a school project to come up with a solution for an everyday problem, and she had the perfect idea—an IV pediatric backpack for children.
With the support of her parents and guidance from her doctors and nurses, Simonds turned a Hello Kitty backpack into a working prototype. The backpack featured a built-in IV controller and a protective cage, enabling children to stay mobile during treatment without the worry of being tethered to an IV pole or accidentally damaging their medication bag.
Needless to say, Simonds's teacher was deeply impressed, and as a result, she was selected to participate in the Connecticut Invention Convention. During the event, Simonds earned four awards, one of which was the prestigious 'Patent Award.' This honor not only acknowledged her achievement but also granted her the chance to have her invention submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, with all related expenses covered by a sponsor.
5. Ann Makosinski
In the Philippines, about 30% of the population lacks access to reliable electricity.
When Ann Makosinski, a 15-year-old from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, discovered that a friend in the Philippines was struggling in school due to limited electricity and short daylight hours, she was inspired to create the 'Hollow Flashlight.'
Instead of relying on batteries, her flashlight uses four Peltier tiles. These tiles consist of two ceramic plates stacked with a conductor in the middle. Along with the Peltier tiles, Makosinski incorporated a transformer and a circuit, enabling the flashlight to function entirely through the heat from the user's hand.
The 'Hollow Flashlight' secured first place in the 2013 Google Science Fair, with Makosinski receiving a $25,000 prize for her innovative design.
In addition to her success with the flashlight, Makosinski developed the eDrink coffee mug, which captures the excess heat from a hot drink and converts it into electricity to charge a smartphone.
4. Justin Rivard
School shootings have sadly become a frequent tragedy in the United States, with more than 288 incidents occurring since January 1, 2009—a rate that is 57 times greater than that of other major countries.
When 15-year-old Justin Rivard from Somerset, Wisconsin, recognized the shortcomings in his high school's emergency procedures, he decided to use his welding skills to create a solution to protect schools from active shooter threats—the JustinKase.
Rivard dedicated significant time and effort to perfect his final design. By combining steel plates, rods, and a locking knob, he managed to weld together a product that can be securely placed under a classroom door and latched to the doorframe. This system ensures that the door remains firmly closed, even under extreme pressure.
3. Jack Andraka
While the exact causes of pancreatic cancer remain unclear, it arises due to mutations in the DNA of pancreatic cells.
As the cancer advances, symptoms like weight loss, jaundice, abdominal discomfort, and bowel obstructions emerge. Unfortunately, these symptoms often appear only after the cancer has spread to other organs, making early detection challenging and hindering effective treatment.
Thirteen-year-old Jack Andraka from Crownsville, Maryland, experienced the devastating impact of pancreatic cancer firsthand after losing a family friend to the disease. Determined to make a difference, he used this personal tragedy as inspiration to revolutionize the testing process for pancreatic cancer.
Andraka came across a scientific paper exploring the use of carbon nanotubes—tiny tubes made from carbon atoms that can be applied in nanotechnology and as thermal conductors. Later, after attending his biology teacher's lesson on antibodies, Andraka combined these concepts to devise a test capable of detecting pancreatic cancer at an earlier stage.
Andraka's innovative test would involve a network of nanotubes infused with specific mesothelin antibodies, which are considered to be markers for cancer.
After nearly a year of dedication, Andraka successfully developed a test that utilizes filter paper and a dipstick-like sensor to identify not only pancreatic cancer but also other types of cancer at much earlier stages.
2. Riya Karumanchi
Canes offer valuable support for individuals recovering from injuries or those experiencing weakness in their legs. Additionally, they provide a sense of security and stability when walking for elderly individuals, as well as those who are blind or visually impaired.
When 14-year-old Riya Karumanchi from Burlington, Ontario, Canada, first met her friend's grandmother, who was visually impaired, she was struck by how challenging it was for the elderly woman to use her cane to move around the house.
This observation inspired Karumanchi to create the Smart Cane, a walking aid equipped with built-in GPS that provides users with step-by-step guidance. For instance, a single buzz indicates a left turn, while two buzzes signal a right turn.
In addition, the cane is designed to send alerts to first responders and the user's family if the user happens to fall for any reason.
1. David Cohen
Malaria is an illness transmitted to humans through the bite of a mosquito infected with a parasite.
At the age of 12, David Cohen from Dallas, Texas, was already aware of the widespread mosquito problem in his state, especially after witnessing his sister suffer through weeks of antibiotics due to a staph infection caused by scratching a mosquito bite. This experience motivated Cohen to focus on finding a solution to reduce the spread of malaria and West Nile Virus, both transmitted by mosquitoes.
Cohen developed a robot capable of eliminating mosquito larvae before they could mature, effectively preventing the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. But Cohen's ambitions didn’t end there.
When he was 13, Cohen saw news coverage of the devastating tornado damage in Granbury, Texas, and wondered how search and rescue teams could locate and rescue victims amidst the rubble.
Typically, fire departments and emergency responders lead rescue operations, often with the help of dogs, whose exceptional sense of smell, agility, and focus make them invaluable for such missions. However, Cohen believed there could be a safer and more efficient method for carrying out these critical tasks.
Inspired by a science lesson on earthworms, Cohen designed a robotic earthworm capable of traveling underground to locate and rescue trapped victims, while also delivering essential supplies to them.
