17-Year-Old Invents Water Filter That Removes 99.9% of Microplastics

Seventeen-year-old Priya Sharma was doing a school science project on water pollution when she made a discovery that could change millions of lives. She found that processed banana peel fibers, when arranged in a specific lattice pattern, can filter out 99.9% of microplastics from water. The filter costs less than $1 to produce, uses agricultural waste that would otherwise be discarded, and lasts for approximately 5,000 liters before needing replacement. 'I was just trying to get a good grade,' Priya laughed during her presentation at the World Science Fair, where she won the grand prize. 'But my teacher said this could help people, so I kept going.' Her invention has caught the attention of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has offered a grant to develop the filter for commercial production. UNICEF is also exploring deploying the technology in developing countries where microplastic contamination of water sources is severe. 'Priya reminds us that the next great inventor could be any kid with curiosity and determination,' said her chemistry teacher, Mr. Rajan Patel.