Canadian youth develops new anti-aging compound
May 9, 2012
Janelle Tam, a 16-year-old girl from Ontario, Canada, recently invented an anti-aging compound that also fights disease. She presented her invention, which uses nano-particles found in trees, at the national finals for the 2012 Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge Canada. The compound helped Tam earn the $5,000 first prize at the competition and her discovery may help to improve health as well as slow the process of aging.
Tam's research focused around nano-crystalline cellulose (NCC) particles that are "measured in thousandths of the width of a human hair." The teenage scientist fused these microscopic fibers, which help keep trees upright, with buckminster fullerene nano-particles commonly found in anti-aging beauty products.
"The results were really exciting," Tam said. She has high hopes her creation will open doors for anti-aging products that can have therapeutic and medicinal purposes as well.
Second place winner Rui Song developed a potential method of increasing the nutritional value of lentils. Third prize went to a duo, Alexander Tigert and Zelun (Daniel) Zhang for their work with genetically modified yeast and the testing of depression and anxiety drugs.
Those who want to find out more about Tam and the other contest winners can make calls to Canada with international phone cards and talk to their friends about the innovations.