High Schooler Invents Color-Changing, Infection-Detecting Sutures

Taylor set out to solve the problem of Cesarean section infections, an issue that plagues up to 20% of women in some African nations. Thus, she invented sutures that change color to indicate the wound has become infected. Natural skin is slightly acidic with a pH of five, but when an infection occurs, the pH can go up to about nine. This change doesn’t need electronics to be detected; in fact, fruits and vegetables are great natural indicators of pH changes. Taylor found that beets changed color at the perfect pH point to detect an infection. You can see Dasia discuss her invention here.