A 14-year-old girl invented earphones that can treat ear infections and won the title of "America's Best Young Scientist"

News on November 15, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge is the most important middle school science competition in the United States, and this year's grand prize winner is a 14-year-old Asian-American girl from San Diego
, California.

According to Good News Network, Leanne Fan invented the Finsen headphones, a low-cost headphone device that uses machine learning and blue light to detect and treat middle ear infections in children, potentially preventing up to 60% of children's hearing loss
.

As a finalist, Leanne was assigned a mentor, Dr.
Ross Behling, a research expert at 3M's Materials Lab, who worked one-on-one with her over the summer to take her ideas from concept to prototype
.
The nine finalists then competed for two days in October at 3M's corporate headquarters in St.
Paul, Minnesota
.

It is known that otitis media affects 700 million people worldwide each year and causes about 21,000 deaths, many of whom are children
from low-income families.
Diagnosing and treating otitis media is often extremely challenging in the absence of medical conditions and/or healthcare, and Leanne's idea is to provide a low-cost, antibiotic-free option
for detecting and treating middle ear infections.

The incoming high school freshman received a $25,000 (about 177,000 yuan) prize, a special trip and the title of "America's Top Young Scientist," and she intends to use part of the prize money to patent
the headphones.
The second and third place winners each received 1,000 USD (approximately RMB 7,070) and a special trip
.