
ALT 🚨 An 18-Year-Old Invented a Filter That Removed 96% of Microplastics What if a simple magnet could help remove tiny plastic particles from water? An 18-year-old student from Virginia, Mia Heller, decided to find out—and her invention is turning heads. After watching her mother repeatedly replace expensive filter membranes, Mia began searching for another solution. Her idea was unusual: **create a water filter that works without a membrane.** Her secret? Ferrofluid, a special magnetic liquid that can help capture tiny plastic particles. When a magnet is applied, the liquid can be pulled away, taking the captured particles with it. In her tests, the prototype removed about **96% of microplastics**. Her invention earned recognition at the 2025 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. But there is still a long way to go. The prototype processes only about one liter at a time, and more testing is needed to determine how well it works in everyday conditions.
































