Dasia Taylor, a 17-year-old student in Iowa, didn’t think of herself as a “science person.” But when her teacher asked for students interested in a science fair, Dasia raised her hand. She went on to create a new type of suture that is used to stitch together wounds.
Dasia had read about “smart” sutures, which use tiny sensors to monitor how wounds are healing. But the technology is expensive, and Dasia wanted to make an affordable option. The special ingredient in Dasia’s sutures is beet juice. When skin becomes infected, it becomes less acidic. Dasia learned that the color of beet juice can reveal the strength of an acid. When a wound becomes infected, her red beet juice-treated sutures turn purple.
Dasia’s idea led her to the finals of the 2021 Regeneron Science Talent Search. “I am so glad I was curious enough to raise my hand in class that day!” she says.