ISEF projects, 2014–2026

Peer Pressure Persuasion

Systems Software

The purpose of this project was to see how a set of participant´s scores were affected by their peers´ answers. The purpose of this experiment was to test conformity in the youth. This drast…

Peptide Nanotubes: Redesigning Amyloid-B as a Metalloprotein

With the development of continually shrinking technology, the subject of nanomaterials has become an increasingly relevant topic. Peptide nanotubes have a unique ability to self-assemble pro…

Performing Joint Measurements on Electron Spin Qubits by Measuring Current through a Nearby Conductance Channel

Advances in the manufacturing of semiconductor structures have allowed the observation of electron spins which are potentially useful for the construction of quantum computers. This project…

Permaximize

Third Award

Robots and computers are now essential tools in today’s society that automate tasks in every field. Programmers utilize the concepts of machine learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)…

Personal Communicator for People Who Have Hard Problems with Moving Functions and Speech

The goal of work is creation of device: Personal communicator for people who have hard problem with moving function and speech. The new way of communication for such people with other is off…

Personal Devices for Prevention and Preliminary Diagnostic of Skin Cancer Based on Local Ultraviolet Reflectivity and Spectrum Analysis of Skin

Every year, several million skin lesions are diagnosed as cancerous in the US. In many cases, this disease is correlated to an excessive exposure to harmful ultraviolet radiation. Applicatio…

PGC1-Alpha and Cyclin D1 Synergistically Activate Lipogenesis via Upregulated Oxidative Pentose Phosphate Pathway and TCA Cycle Citrate Efflux

Fourth Award

The ability of a cancer cell to alter its metabolic capacity was described by Warburg in the 1930s as an increase in energy production via glycolysis. Today, it is understood that transcript…

Phase Change Material Based Thermal Energy Storage for Higher Efficiency Photovoltaics

Third Award

The solar to electrical conversion efficiency of photovoltaic panels suffers when they operate at elevated temperatures. It was hypothesized that a passive phase change material (PCM) based…

pH-Dependent Colorimetric Assays for Biomarking Amino Acids

This project explored the synthesis of gold nanoparticles from chloroauric acid, mediated through the reducing abilities of selected amino acids. Given that amino acids have been identified…

Photodegradation of Organic Dyes through Improved Catalysis across a Graphene Oxide-Doped Titanium Dioxide Substrate

Energy: Sustainable Materials and Design

Water and energy are linked. Water is needed for energy production and energy is needed for clean water production. Because many have limited access to both water and electricity, sustainabl…

Photoelastic Analysis of the Mechanical Stress in Korean Traditional Joints

In building korean traditional houses, various kinds of joints such as Je-hyeo-chog joint(Dovetail Halving), Mettugi-jang joint(Stepped goose neck splice), Nabi-jang joint(Butterfly key join…

Photoelectrolysis: A Study of Intensity and Hydrogen Production

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to simulate different variations of daylight by varying the distance of an artificial light to a solar panel in order to produce hydrogen. Procedures…

Physical Activity and Intranasal Administration of Neuropeptide Y and Y1 Agonists Mitigate the Symptoms of ADHD and PTSD

Biomedical and Health Sciences

ADHD affects more than one in ten adolescents in the United States. Additionally, neuropeptide Y (NPY), a neurotransmitter that regulates stress and emotional behavior, is strongly associate…

Physical and Chemical Warfare between Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis

Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis are two bacteria that compete for limited tooth surface. This study was done to determine which one was stronger. Through experimentation, it…

Phytoremediation: Biosorption and Rhizofiltration of Heavy Metals - A Dual Approach

Heavy metals are an environmental hazard and a human health concern. They are difficult and costly to remove from the environment. Phytoremediation is an inexpensive and effective alternativ…

Pineapple Skin Galore

With the rapid increase of industrialization and modernization, the consumption of domestic materials for development increases accordingly. Due to limited wood supply, humans resort to usin…

Plant Tissues that Fail to Regenerate Undergo Early Steps of Remodeling but Fail to Induce a Cytokinin Hormone Response

First Award

Plant roots are susceptible to damage from insects, microbes, and poor soil conditions, but their high capacity for regeneration gives them the ability to recover. Many of the molecular step…

Plant Vaccination: Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) Induced Self-Defense Priming in Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa L.)

Plant vaccines to reduce the disease by induced self-defense priming by phytochemicals are at its infancy. This study explores the chances of self-defense priming in Chinese cabbage, Brassic…

Plasmatic Events during Electrolysis of Aqueous Solutions

Energy: Sustainable Materials and Design

The goal of the research was to understand the processes going on under high voltage electrolysis and to bring attention to the possible applications of the new scientific field. Electrolysi…

Platelet Estimation: Semi-Quantitative Method Using the Miller Disc, Year II

The research conducted focused on developing a method to perform a semi-quantitative platelet count on abnormal blood smears (Hemaglobinopathy, or sickle cell anemia, and Elevated Mean Plate…

Point of Care Testing for Malaria Using a Smartphone and a Microfluidic ELISA System

Second Award

Drug resistant malarial parasites and inability to monitor patient response to treatment kill nearly a million people every year. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a highly sensit…

Pollution Filter Masks

Energy: Sustainable Materials and Design

The world we live in is surrounded by a layer of contaminated grime and toxic agents which slowly but surely chip away at our immune system. These pollutants hold us back from a successful a…

Polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), 3D Printed, Bipartite Surgical Implant: An Alternative and Supportive Cure for Internal Coxa Saltans in Female Adolescents

Fourth Award

Coxa Saltans, a condition of the hip, comes in three forms that manipulate a snap, but the contributing factors vary. Internal Coxa Saltans, on which this research focuses, occurs when the i…

Polymer Mediated Trangene Delivery of TRAIL Protein: Comparison of Aminoglycoside Polymers and Lipopolymers for Transgene Delivery of TRAIL Protein into UMUC-3 Bladder Cancer Cells

Translational Medical Science

Polymers that form polymer-DNA complexes (polyplexes) have been established to be safer and more effective -without causing death to harmless cells- than Chemotherapy and viral-mediated tran…

Polymer Solar Heater

The project consisted in the design and creation of a solar water heater to basis of polymers, taking advantage of the urban and rural solid waste generated in the community of Texmelucan. T…

Polymers to Care for the Environment

Fourth Award

Biopolymers are all those polymers that are naturally produced such as starch and cellulose. And they may be assimilated by various biodegradable species without having a toxic effect on the…

Poop to Power! Constructing Biogas Generators for Household Use

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate which homemade biogas generator was the best one for daily use in a household. Five different designs of biogas generators were built based…

Popping Bubbles: Relationship between Cell Surface Area and Ultrasound Microbubble Mediated Toxicity

Ultrasound targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) has become a widely researched method of drug delivery. This method utilizes the behavior of gas filled microbubbles in response to targete…

Portable Electric Generator "Follow Me"

Electromagnetic induction says that when magnetic flux changes through a closed contour, an electric field will be inducted. The magnetic flux changes if the contour and the magnet move rela…

Possideo Manus: Inexpensive Prosthesis for Those Who Truly Need Them

Across the world, 26 000 people per year become limb deficient. For those children that live in developing countries where there is little financial support, an industrial prosthetic hand co…