07/01/2026
Heman Bekele, a 15 year old Ethiopian immigrant to the US was named TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year for inventing a low cost soap infused with curcumin that shows promise in treating and preventing skin cancer.
Bekele’s innovation, developed after winning 3M’s $25,000 Young Scientist Challenge in 2023, uses a turmeric derived compound to target melanoma cells, with early lab tests indicating up to 40% reduction in tumour growth in animal models.
This recognition underscores the potential of youth led science in global health, as Bekele’s soap could make skin cancer prevention affordable in sun exposed regions like Ethiopia, where rates are rising due to ozone depletion and lifestyle changes.
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