Teen Innovators Create Microalgae Exhaust Filter to Turn Pollution Into Oxygen
Two brilliant teenagers from Pennsylvania have engineered an inventive solution to one of today’s most pressing environmental challenges—vehicle pollution. At just 18 years old, Rohan Kapoor and Jack Reichert have developed a low-cost exhaust filter that uses living microalgae to capture harmful emissions and convert them into oxygen.
Their creation, called the Go Green filter, attaches directly to a car’s exhaust pipe. Once installed, the device channels emissions through a chamber filled with microalgae. These organisms naturally absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, effectively transforming toxic exhaust into cleaner air.
The idea was sparked by research from an MIT professor, which inspired the teens to explore how biological systems could be applied to everyday pollution sources. What followed was nearly a year of experimentation, redesigns, and countless tests as they refined the prototype into a functional, affordable device.
Despite its simplicity, the Go Green filter delivers impressive results. According to the Chester County Press, the device costs roughly $50 to produce, making it accessible for widespread use. Even more remarkable, repeated testing has shown that the filter can reduce emissions by more than 74%.
The teenagers believe the impact could be global. Their calculations suggest that if cars around the world adopted their system, carbon emissions could drop by more than 16%, representing a major step forward in the fight against climate change.
Innovative, affordable, and environmentally transformative, the Go Green filter showcases the power of youth-led ideas in solving real-world problems—and highlights how science, creativity, and determination can spark meaningful change.
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