Generation Nano: Superheroes Inspired by Science!

2018 HIGH SCHOOL GENERATION NANO

1^st PLACE!
Heliora

Joy

St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Potomac, Maryland

For a brighter future!
The story of Heliora as she uses her solar suit and nanotechnology to protect Brightfield City from the wrath of Dr. Blackburn!

Helioras claim to fame is her versatile solar-powered suit, complete with an efficient battery and a stunning pair of wings made possible by solar nanotechnology. Her mission is to maintain and protect her citys power, battling Dr. Blackburn as he threatens to strip the city of its newly-installed renewable energy grid.

2^nd PLACE!
Hemea

Anna & Emily

Clarke County High School in Berryville, Virginia

Isn't that sweet?
As Heather Kogane (Hemea) is working in the lab one night, she dreams of a way to prevent type one diabetes.

Hemea and her sister have type 1 diabetes, and she saw its effect on her and her sisters lifestyle from a young age. She wanted to find a cure for the disease so that no child would have to carry around insulin, needles, a blood glucose meter, or a logbook ever again. Hemea became a biochemical researcher in order to reach this mission, and shes devoted her entire career to her mission. A glucose-full villain, Glycosa, haunts her dreams, reminding her everyday that her task is nearly impossible. Hemea uses nanoparticles combined with antagomirs to prevent the immune system from attacking the pancreas, ultimately defeating Glycosa and preventing type 1 diabetes.

HONORABLE MENTIONS!

Nicole

Jericho High School in Jericho, New York

Using nanoparticles to clean our waters in a big way.
Vilmaris is able to clear pollutants from water using her special ability that allows her to inject nanoparticles into any waters. When the villain, Sordes, pollutes a local lake, Vilmaris quickly arrives on the scene to stop Sordes from dirtying the water. Once she puts her hand in the lake, nano zero valent iron particles (nZVIs) are released. The nZVIs work by degrading the components of the pollution that had been spread by Sordes. The nZVIs are able to clear the water on their own once they have been emitted by Vilmaris. In order to finally defeat Sordes, Vilmaris puts her hand in his core and releases nZVIs directly in his core. The nZVIs spread throughout his figure and quickly destroy him. Vilmaris will continue to utilize her special nanoparticles to protect even more waters around the world.

Aisha, Saisanjana & Vidhya

East Brunswick High School in East Brunswick, New Jersey

The Doctor you'll Remember.
Superhero, inspired by the death of her grandmother from Alzheimers, has found cure that uses nanobots to deliver medicine and disassemble plaques and tangles. She is always willing to help a person in need with her gadgets and nanobots.