skin cancer
Heman Bekele is only 14 years old. He is an eighth-grader at Frost Middle School in Fairfax, Virginia. His family is actually from Ethiopia.
Heman is a middle school American student who has won the esteemed science competition known as the 2023 3M Young Scientist Challenge.
Heman created a soap that he claims can help with skin cancer. His soap contains salicylic acid, glycerin, and other substances that he claims can target cancer cells.
Heman was motivated to make this soap after knowing about the high prevalence of skin cancer among agricultural laborers in Ethiopia, his family's home country.
Heman says his soap is intended to be used in the same way that ordinary soap is. He postulated that it may potentially penetrate the skin and eliminate cancer cells while avoiding healthy ones.
Heman earned the title of "America's Top Young Scientist" and received $25,000 for winning the 3M Youthful Researcher Challenge.
Heman intends to continue improving his innovation. In order to prove that his soap works, he plans to team up with dermatologists and conduct clinical trials.