14-Year-Old Virginia Student Develops Cancer-Treating Soap, Wins Top Young Scientist Award

Heman Bekele, a 14-year-old student from Virginia, has been crowned America's Top Young Scientist for developing an affordable bar of soap that treats skin cancer. By infusing medicinal soap with salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and tretinoin, Bekele created a soap that reactivates dendritic cells, boosting the immune response to combat cancer. Each bar costs just $0.50, compared to the $40,000 needed for current medical treatments. Bekele plans to refine his innovation and create a nonprofit organization to distribute the soap to needy communities.