Breakthrough (20 page)

These days, it seems like everywhere I look there is something exciting going on in the world of science and technology. Did you know that telekinesis, or the ability to move things with the power of your mind, is actually a real thing? Using a new technique called electroencephalography, five students from the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering were able to harness their brain waves to control the motion of a helicopter!

Or did you know that the Palm Islands were built up out of the ocean by engineers in Dubai and made in the shape of palm trees?

With all the breakthroughs in science and technology happening everywhere, sometimes I just don't understand why other people my age aren't more interested. I still remember back in elementary school when my classmates seemed to love science as much as I did. I lived for getting my hands dirty, taking things apart, and figuring
out how the world worked. I remember watching caterpillars turn into butterflies in class, and learning for the first time what happens when you put an Alka-Seltzer into a bottle of Coke.

But then something changed for a lot of my classmates. I noticed that many of them became uninterested in science. The wonder was gone. Some even began to hate science, and math, too. I don't exactly know why this is. Maybe it just wasn't cool anymore, or it was easier to spend time on your phone or playing video games.

I'm optimistic though. I spend a lot of time going to different events and talking about STEM education reform. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. Last summer, President Obama announced a new campaign to train one hundred thousand STEM teachers, with the goal of providing STEM learning opportunities for eighteen thousand low-income students and inspiring more kids to become involved.

I have lots of ideas for changing the way school is set up. I want school to be less like sitting and memorizing facts from a textbook and more like working in my basement. I want there to be open access so that everyone, no matter how old you are or how much money you have, can read about the amazing research that takes place every day. I never would have made my discoveries if I hadn't been able to read articles online, and many of those I had to pay for. I want them to be free so a kid in rural India has as much of a chance as I do at discovering the world's next breakthrough.

Today I've been sitting down at my kitchen counter, trying to work. It hasn't been easy. The last few hours have been one distraction after another. The biggest problem, at the moment, is Luke, who is home from Virginia Tech, where he is studying engineering. He won't shut up about a pizza he is making, and he knows that I can't leave the kitchen because it's the only place in the house that has Wi-Fi at the moment.

Now he has left the room but is making bird noises from the family room. He is seriously so annoying.

Me and Luke in the driveway wearing our matching ISEF sweatshirts

There is also something else on my mind. Recently, I was on a
trip back from a conference in London, watching the movie
Wall-E
, about an intelligent robot.

I can't help but wonder: What if I could find a way to make robots really small and smart so they could swim through the bloodstream and treat medical conditions?

To make this work, these robots would have to be nanobots. Nanorobotics is the creation of robots so small, they have to be measured in nanometers, which are one-billionth of a meter long. I'd have to learn a lot more about nanobots. I also don't know a lot about the human circulatory system, but I know some great research sites online that will help me with that.

If this is going to work, these little robots won't just have to be small, they will also have to be agile enough to navigate through the circulatory system.

What if I could make a robot flexible? How would I do that? If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. After all, I'm waiting to hear about your projects next. In the meantime, I'm going to get to work.

If you're tired of hearing our generation getting trashed all the time as a group of self-entitled slackers, it's up to each one of us to break through and change that perception.

What is the one thing you can do to change the world? Share your own inspirational photos or actions with #Breakthrough.

There are
so
many amazing people I'd like to thank, without whose help this book would not have been possible!

My literary managers, Sharlene Martin and Clelia Gore of Martin Literary and Media Management, who not only did an amazing job representing me, but have become my friends. You both are so awesome! Thank you! I'm especially grateful for all the amazing food you all fed me when we hung out in New York City.

To Matthew Lysiak, for his tireless work in helping me with this manuscript.

I was blown away by
everyone
at HarperCollins, who had faith that a book by a science geek could inspire others!

To my editors, Nancy Inteli and Olivia Swomley, who did a fantastic job of guiding this book and pushing me to go deeper.

This book would also not have been possible without the help and support of the awe-inspiring team of professionals at HarperCollins: Lisa Sharkey, Emily Brenner, Andrea Pappenheimer, Diane Naughton, Sandee Roston, Matthew Schweitzer, Julie Eckstein, Cindy Hamilton, Victor Hendrickson, Laura Raps, and the entire legal team.

I want to thank my mom, Jane Andraka, and my father, Steve Andraka, for not murdering me or sending me to reform school after any one of those number of times when I almost blew our house up or set loose strange bacteria in the kitchen. You both are the best parents ever. Ever. Thank you!

And before he walks upstairs and punches me in the face, I better thank my older brother, Luke. He is actually a pretty cool guy and one of a small handful of people who gave me support when I needed it most.

Luke, you are one of my best friends. Thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I believe learning is something you
do
. You don't need to be officially enrolled in school to make a difference in your life and your education. In the spirit of discovery, I've included ten experiments for you to try. Be sure to obey the Andraka family rule: Don't blow up the house! You should also get permission from an adult before trying these.

 

 

Remember when Lava Lamps were cool in the sixties? Yeah, neither do I. But even if you're not a flower child from that era, you are going to absolutely
love
this experiment. This experiment shows a colorful way to explain the powers of two of my favorite things, sodium bicarbonate and citric acid.

   
•
  
A vase or large glass water bottle (anywhere from 20 ounces to 2 liters)

   
•
  
Food coloring (the more colors the better!)

   
•
  
Store brand Alka-Seltzer

   
•
  
Vegetable oil

   
•
  
Grateful Dead music (this is entirely optional)

NOTE: Read carefully, this is very important—under no circumstances should you use an antique glass vase that has been in your family for generations. Especially if it is one that was handed down from your beloved aunt Ida. Seriously, don't do it! Just ask your parents to help get you one.

       
1.
 
Fill the vase or glass bottle about three-quarters of the way full with the vegetable oil.

       
2.
 
Add about half a cup of water or fill until there is only an inch or two of space left at the top of your vase or bottle.

       
3.
 
Begin adding drops of the food coloring, about six to seven drops, depending on the size of your vase or bottle. I like to use a bunch of different colors, but any amount or color works. Keep adding the drops until your water is filled with color.

       
4.
 
Cut the Alka-Seltzer tablets into quarters and drop one of the quarters into the water.

       
5.
 
Now wait for it . . . wait for it . . . wait for it . . . BUBBLES!!

       
6.
 
Tap “play” on the Grateful Dead music (again, this part is optional) to bring home the full effect of the time warp.

       
7.
 
After a few minutes, when the bubbles begin to slow down, you can add another quarter piece of Alka-Seltzer for a quick recharge.

       
8.
 
Now it's time to get creative. Try throwing sugar, salt, or even Goldfish crackers into the water and see the different reactions.

This experiment is a fun way to demonstrate how sodium bicarbonate and citric acid (the two main ingredients in Alka-Seltzer) react.

When the tablet hits the water and begins to dissolve, all the ingredients mix together and carbon dioxide is released in the form of bubbles rising to the top. The bubbles work to mix the oil and colored water (and remember, water and oil prefer to stay apart from each other).

Now sit back and behold the hypnotizing powers of the Lava Lamp. Move it around in your hand and watch as the liquid gels and separates into different shapes and colors.

Meditate on the wonders of the universe! And the wonders of sodium bicarbonate!

And please . . . turn that hippie music off.

 

 

One of the cool things that I have always loved about science is how it can be used to amaze and astound friends and family members. After all, most magic tricks are really science. If you ever want to see a real magician at work, find a world-class physicist.

In this experiment, we are going to take an everyday object that you thought you knew and, using the powers of science, zap it of its strength.

   
•
  
A large glass jar

   
•
  
A bottle of vinegar

   
•
  
A chicken drumstick

       
1.
 
The first order of business is to eat a great big chicken dinner. Now grab a drumstick, or leg bone, and eat all the meat off it. If you are anything like me, that shouldn't be a problem.

       
2.
 
After you finish eating your dinner and washing it down with a tall glass of milk, take the leg bone and rinse it off in
water. Now gently try to bend the bone. It should be hard and unbendable.