A new generation is redefining the boundaries of what’s possible. From building solar-powered robots to inventing life-changing medical devices, these teenage prodigies aren’t just dreaming of a better future — they’re creating it. Here are six incredible inventions from teenage science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) superstars making waves in the industry.
Emma Yang: An App for Alzheimer’s
At just 14 years old, Emma Yang created the ingenious app “Timeless.” When Emma was around 8 years old, she watched her grandmother become increasingly forgetful and unable to recognize faces or names — typical signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is a progressive illness affecting memory and the ability to complete everyday tasks like brushing teeth or showering.
She witnessed firsthand the toll it took on her grandmother, as well as the emotional strain it placed on their entire family. These memory issues make it incredibly challenging for patients to take in their surroundings, multitask, and pay attention during conversations. Determined to make a difference, Emma channeled her empathy and passion for coding and technology to create an innovative app to empower Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers.
Emma first showed an interest in coding when she was just 6 years old, giving her the knowledge she needed to create a caregiver-assisted, easy-to-use tool for those with the disease.
Timeless helps patients identify and reconnect with the people who matter most, guiding users through cherished memories using prompts and interactive features. These features provide a sense of familiarity and comfort in a world often clouded by confusion.
Family members and friends can upload photos to the app, reminding patients of special moments and relationships. The images help jog the patient’s memory and allow them to connect the past to the present.
Riya Karumanchi: The SmartCane
Fifteen-year-old Riya Karumanchi invented the SmartCane after watching her friend's visually impaired grandmother bump into things around the house. The conventional white cane offered little assistance in identifying objects beyond knee level, making it challenging for visually impaired individuals to move safely.
While researching the cane, Riya discovered it hadn’t been updated since 1921 and lacked the technological advancements necessary to address the needs of the visually impaired.
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Driven by a passion for improving accessibility and independence for those with poor eyesight, Riya integrated smart technology into the standard white cane. Her innovative prototype of the SmartCane incorporates haptic-based GPS navigation, meaning it vibrates to notify users when to turn — one buzz for a left turn and two for a right turn.
It also has an ultrasonic proximity sensor to alert users of a potential obstacle. Riya plans to enhance the cane further by integrating artificial intelligence-powered cameras to describe objects and recognize faces.
Riya raised over $50,000 in funding from various investors in 2018 and is currently a Stanford student.
Leeann Fan: Headphones for Ear Infections
Leeann Fan — a 14-year-old prodigy from San Diego — won the top prize at the 2022 3M Young Scientist Challenge with her groundbreaking invention: Finsen headphones. She named them after Niels Finsen, the renowned scientist who used ultraviolet rays to cure skin disorders.
With millions of middle-ear infections reported annually, Fan’s vision for the Finsen headphone is more than just musical enjoyment — it can detect and treat ear infections. While ear infections usually aren’t anything to worry about, they can cause hearing loss in young children.
The headphones use machine learning through Google’s Teachable Machine software. Fan created a database of over 700 images of normal and infected eardrums to train the headphones to diagnose conditions. The headphones have a USB camera in the ear cup to analyze the wearer’s eardrum.
After conducting over 200 tests, Fan discovered exposure to blue light for 45 minutes could reduce bacteria in the ear. The invention is revolutionary for child health care, offering a comfortable and convenient way to treat children with ear infections.
I struggled with ear infections as a kid and would’ve much preferred to wear headphones and listen to music than deal with cotton wool in my ears.
They can help avoid delays in diagnoses and treatment, allowing doctors to deliver the best possible care through individual treatment plans. The Finsen headphones can prevent up to 60% of childhood hearing loss.
Kylie Simonds: An IV Pediatric Backpack
Eleven-year-old Kylie Simonds used her cancer battle as inspiration to create the IV backpack. After 46 weeks of chemotherapy and radiation, Kylie discovered she was in remission. Her journey didn’t end there, though, as she began her mission to improve the lives of children going through similar medical challenges.
She used a school project as an opportunity to design a backpack that would provide young patients with mobility and freedom during IV treatments and infusions. Drawing from her experiences and love of fashion, she envisioned a functional, colorful, gender-neutral, and undeniably cool backpack.
The backpack features an integrated IV pole with a drip bag protection cage, ensuring the bag remains secure. It is also fully customizable, with hearts and peace signs. Most importantly, a battery-powered IV controller allows young patients to control the treatment’s flow rate.
Kylie's IV pediatric backpack captured judges' hearts at the Connecticut Invention Convention. She won four awards for her invention in 2014, including the Patent Award.
Sharanya Chudgar: A Solar-Powered Trash-Collecting Robot
Fourteen-year-old Sharanya Chudgar from San Jose, California, designed and constructed a solar-powered trash-collecting robot. It features sensors to detect litter, a pan for scooping trash, and a metal-detecting sorting mechanism. A light sensor allows the robot’s solar panel to maximize energy collection by angling toward the sun.
Sharanya chose a robot because it could work much faster and longer than humans. During the testing phase, the robot correctly identified every item it picked up and successfully collected objects 80% of the time. I can’t imagine how much easier this would’ve made trash-collecting when I was younger.
Inspired by her participation in local litter cleanups, Sharanya was motivated to address the pollution issue through her innovative project. She received plenty of guidance from her father, who assisted her using power tools.
Remya Jose: Pedal-Powered Washing Machine
Electricity is a luxury for people in many parts of the world, particularly rural communities. Fourteen-year-old Remya Jose from India strived to alleviate the burden of manual labor for countless women in rural areas.
Living in a household where manual laundry was a daily chore, she recognized the toll it took on her mother and other women. When both her parents fell ill, the responsibility fell on her. She knew she needed to create something to balance schoolwork and chores better.
The pedal-powered washing machine operates with a rotating drum and cycling pedals. Within its aluminum case, a wire cylinder holds the laundry, connected to a pedal system similar to a bicycle chain. Once the clothes have soaked in hot water and detergent, one can begin pedaling, spinning the machining, and washing the laundry.
By using human energy through a simple yet effective mechanism, Remya’s invention empowers individuals to tackle laundry chores easily, all while promoting exercise and reducing environmental impact.
Create the Future
Age is no barrier to invention. From tackling environmental challenges to revolutionizing health care, these teenagers demonstrate that anything is possible.
