Mia Heller
Regeneron ISEF 2025 finalist who built a self-recycling ferrofluid-based water filter removing 95.52% of microplastics (and recycling 87.15% of the ferrofluid) — reported by Smithsonian Magazine (Mar 2026).
What they built
Mia Heller invented a membrane-free home water filtration system that uses ferrofluid — a magnetic liquid — to bind with and extract microplastic particles from drinking water. Built in her family's garage, the prototype eliminates approximately 95.5–96% of microplastics without requiring the repeated membrane replacements that drive up the cost and maintenance burden of conventional home filters. She developed the project independently after observing her mother's struggles with a standard filtration system and reading about widespread microplastic contamination in US tap water. Mia hopes to eventually commercialize the design to make affordable, low-maintenance microplastic filtration available to everyday households.
View ProjectThe F18 Thesis
Verified track record
- Smithsonian Magazine — 'This High School Student Invented a Filter That Eliminates 96 Percent of Microplastics From Drinking Water' (2026, confirms age 18, Kettle Run High School, self-built in garage) (source)
- People Magazine — 'High School Student, 18, Invents Filter That Eliminate 95.5% of Microplastics' (confirms age 18, Virginia, hopes to commercialize) (source)
- VnExpress — 'US teen invents low-cost water filter removing nearly 96% of microplastics' (Apr 2, 2026) (source)
- Daily Galaxy / Reddit (Mar 2026) (source)
- LinkedIn profile (confirms student at Mountain Vista Governor's School, Kettle Run High School, class of 2026) (source)