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“It’s So Surreal”: 14-Year-Old Invents Soap That Treats Skin Cancer And Wins Science Award
Young people represent the future of our world, and their potential to enact profound change, particularly in the fields of science and medicine, is awe-inspiring.
14-year-old Heman Bekele has proven just that by achieving a remarkable feat and receiving a prestigious accolade for his invention of a cancer-treating soap.
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14-year-old Heman Bekele has won “America’s Top Young Scientist” after inventing a soap that treats skin cancer
Image credits: Fairfax County Public Schools
As a ninth-grader from Annandale, Virginia, Heman entered the prestigious 3M Young Scientist Challenge while studying at Frost Middle School. He subsequently won America’s Top Young Scientist.
The annual challenge asks students starting fifth grade to submit a one to two-minute-long video for a chance to win $25,000 and an exclusive mentorship with a 3M scientist.
The soap bars contain salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and tretinoin meant to slowly reactivate dendritic cells
Image credits: Fairfax County Public Schools
Image credits: Fairfax County Public Schools
3M Company is an American multinational conglomerate operating in the fields of industry, worker safety, healthcare, and consumer goods.
It took Heman a mere eight months to conceptualize the soap and create a rudimentary prototype.
Now, his long-term goal is to eventually establish a non-profit organization to distribute the soap to those who require it.
Heman’s soap costs 50 cents per bar to make
Image credits: Fairfax County Public Schools
Heman’s melanoma-treating soap (or as Heman calls it, M.T.S.) encompasses a blend of salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and tretinoin.
In his submission video, Heman explained: “[They’re] all keratolytic agents that slowly reactivate dendritic cells.”
According to the National Institutes of Health, dendritic cells are professional antigen-presenting cells that inform the fight against invasive pathogens while enforcing tolerance to self and harmless environmental antigens.
Heman entered the prestigious 3M Young Scientist Challenge while studying at Frost Middle School
Image credits: 3M
Image credits: 3M
In other words, the cells boost immune responses.
After winning the $25k prize, Heman will be able to fund his research which will see his product cost 50 cents per bar to make.
Shripriya Kalbhavi, also a ninth-grader, from San Jose, California, won second place for developing a cost-effective patch that allows for self-automated medication delivery without pills or needles.
The ninth-grader won a $25,000 prize and an exclusive mentorship with a 3M scientist
Image credits: 3M
Image credits: 3M Young Scientist Challenge
Meanwhile, Sarah Wang, a seventh-grader from Andover, Massachusetts, came in third place for developing a glove that can detect certain epileptic seizures with common hand movements.
Heman told Fox News: “It’s so crazy, it’s so surreal to even think about it right now!
“The most difficult part was probably creating that first prototype.”
According to Young Scientist Lab, Heman hopes to one day become a successful electrical engineer “who has contributed significantly to the industry”.
It took Heman a mere eight months, to conceptualize the soap and create a rudimentary prototype
Image credits: 3M Young Scientist Challenge
He said: “I envision myself leading a team of professionals in the development of innovative electrical systems that will shape the future of technology.
“Alongside my professional success, I hope to have a fulfilling personal life with a loving family and a strong network of friends.
“I also hope to have given back to my community by mentoring aspiring engineers and supporting initiatives that promote STEM education.
Watch Heman’s competition submission below
Image credits: 3M Young Scientist Challenge
“Ultimately, in 15 years, I hope to have made a positive impact on the world through my work and personal endeavors.”
If Heman’s accomplishments persevere, the teen might as well revolutionize the oncological industry, as the average American must currently pay a hefty price for cancer treatment.
Heman’s long-term goal is to eventually establish a non-profit organization to distribute the soap to those who require it
Image credits: 3M Young Scientist Challenge
In fact, researchers found that the cancer-attributable annualized average medical costs were highest among those who died from cancer in the end-of-life phase, corresponding to $105,500 per patient, the American Association for Cancer Research reported.
Moreover, costs varied considerably by cancer site, with annualized cancer-attributable medical costs in this phase ranging from $71,300 for those with prostate cancer to $239,400 for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
The cancer-attributable annualized average medical costs in the initial, continuing, and non-cancer end-of-life phases were reportedly $41,800, $5,300, and $23,500 per patient, respectively.
People flooded comment sections with praise for the young boy who will undoubtedly change many lives
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What do you think ?
Nice Beast Ludo 2 years ago
GEEZ Are the Comments sinister enough??? Half of them are pre-mourning his death/disappearance. Calm down.v
StrangeOne 2 years ago
Exactly. He didn't invent a cure. He invented a soap to help treat the cancerous skin. Treatments are not cures. Nothing bad is going to happen to this smart fella regarding his invention.
Load More Replies...
Susie Elle 2 years ago
From a scientific point of view I must add that 'Heman developed an affordable soap solution that could positively impact skin cancer outcomes' (source: https://news.3m.com/2023-10-11-14-year-old-named-Americas-Top-Young-Scientist-for-development-of-skin-cancer-treatment). So it's not a treatment on its own. That said, it's really f*****g clever. I wonder based on what he picked the active compounds.
Tracy Wallick 2 years ago
It boggles my mind how incredibly smart some people are, especially when they're kids
Nice Beast Ludo 2 years ago
And how incredibly stupid adults are (read comments lol)
Load More Replies...
SadieCat17 (she/her) 2 years ago
What is wrong the fb comment section?? If the cure to cancer is "so easy" and "secretly hidden by big pharma" why don't you try to discover it yourself? Or are you just scared that the medical system's secret assassins are going to come after you? If these people looked at any medical journals by actually doctors, they would know that progress is made day by day in revolutionary cancer treatments and detection. Hell, some genius came up with the idea to use radioactive iodine to treat thyroid cancer since it's selectively uptaken by the thyroid. Doctors (md and phd) are actively developing cures for cancer, but these people would rather lock themselves in a holistic conspiracy theory echo chamber.
StrangeOne 2 years ago
No telling what these kids are going to do with their bright minds in the future. Can't wait to find out what else they will come up with, and others.
Id row 2 years ago
A bar costs 50 cents to make. I bet they'll sell them for $500. I was just rx'd a migraine medication and found out that 8 pills cost $1,000. I need to call my doctor and ask him wtf he was thinking. I asked the pharmacist if there was anything similar that wouldn't require me to sell my house to afford it. She said no. Gotta love the US healthcare system.
Lea S. 2 years ago
This is wonderful, so proud of this young man. That said, there are over 200 types of cancer. So, unless you have proof, stop with the 'we know there's a cure for cancer' b******t. This 'treats' does not 'cure' ONE type of cancer. Also someone said in the comments that his young man will be 'got' like the holistic doctors. Great, nothing has happened to holistic doctors. I live in one of the most rural, conservative parts of America and we have a whole holistic doctor center. I've used one for years alongside my primary traditional medicine doctor and it's worked well. There are good and bad people/experiences in every part of life - stop pretending like it's universal.
StrangeOne 2 years ago (edited)
You're almost correct. You're right that it's not a cure. You're wrong thinking it's a cancer treatment. It's to help treat the damaged skin. Just like how those with ichthyosis use glycerine and other high medicated creams to treat their hyper-regenerating skin but doesn't cure them of the condition, for example.
Load More Replies... Nice Beast Ludo 2 years ago
GEEZ Are the Comments sinister enough??? Half of them are pre-mourning his death/disappearance. Calm down.v
StrangeOne 2 years ago
Exactly. He didn't invent a cure. He invented a soap to help treat the cancerous skin. Treatments are not cures. Nothing bad is going to happen to this smart fella regarding his invention.
Load More Replies... Susie Elle 2 years ago
From a scientific point of view I must add that 'Heman developed an affordable soap solution that could positively impact skin cancer outcomes' (source: https://news.3m.com/2023-10-11-14-year-old-named-Americas-Top-Young-Scientist-for-development-of-skin-cancer-treatment). So it's not a treatment on its own. That said, it's really f*****g clever. I wonder based on what he picked the active compounds.
Tracy Wallick 2 years ago
It boggles my mind how incredibly smart some people are, especially when they're kids
Nice Beast Ludo 2 years ago
And how incredibly stupid adults are (read comments lol)
Load More Replies... SadieCat17 (she/her) 2 years ago
What is wrong the fb comment section?? If the cure to cancer is "so easy" and "secretly hidden by big pharma" why don't you try to discover it yourself? Or are you just scared that the medical system's secret assassins are going to come after you? If these people looked at any medical journals by actually doctors, they would know that progress is made day by day in revolutionary cancer treatments and detection. Hell, some genius came up with the idea to use radioactive iodine to treat thyroid cancer since it's selectively uptaken by the thyroid. Doctors (md and phd) are actively developing cures for cancer, but these people would rather lock themselves in a holistic conspiracy theory echo chamber.
StrangeOne 2 years ago
No telling what these kids are going to do with their bright minds in the future. Can't wait to find out what else they will come up with, and others.
Id row 2 years ago
A bar costs 50 cents to make. I bet they'll sell them for $500. I was just rx'd a migraine medication and found out that 8 pills cost $1,000. I need to call my doctor and ask him wtf he was thinking. I asked the pharmacist if there was anything similar that wouldn't require me to sell my house to afford it. She said no. Gotta love the US healthcare system.
Lea S. 2 years ago
This is wonderful, so proud of this young man. That said, there are over 200 types of cancer. So, unless you have proof, stop with the 'we know there's a cure for cancer' b******t. This 'treats' does not 'cure' ONE type of cancer. Also someone said in the comments that his young man will be 'got' like the holistic doctors. Great, nothing has happened to holistic doctors. I live in one of the most rural, conservative parts of America and we have a whole holistic doctor center. I've used one for years alongside my primary traditional medicine doctor and it's worked well. There are good and bad people/experiences in every part of life - stop pretending like it's universal.
StrangeOne 2 years ago (edited)
You're almost correct. You're right that it's not a cure. You're wrong thinking it's a cancer treatment. It's to help treat the damaged skin. Just like how those with ichthyosis use glycerine and other high medicated creams to treat their hyper-regenerating skin but doesn't cure them of the condition, for example.
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