Teen Wins Euro Earth Prize

An 18-year-old Irish student is gaining international recognition for developing an invention aimed at tackling microplastics, one of the world’s fastest-growing pollution problems. Ayra Satheesh was named the European winner of the 2026 Earth Prize for creating “Eco Purge”— a biodegradable plastic designed to safely break down while simultaneously releasing enzymes that remove existing microplastics from the environment. Satheesh became determined to find a solution after realizing microplastics could easily be detected in water but were extremely difficult to remove. She developed a plant-based material that gradually releases special enzymes as it decomposes, helping break down plastic particles in soil, freshwater, and oceans. Despite still being a student herself, Satheesh is now collaborating with researchers and scientists around the world to scale the technology for use in everyday products like packaging materials. 

Image via Euro News

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Teacher Saves Chilean Penguins

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