Meet the seventh-grader who found psyllium could remove 93.3% of microplastics in 60 minutes

Isabella GarryPhoto: Society for Science When Isabella Garry learned that microplastics can enter the human body through food, water and the air, she began looking for a solution that went beyond simply avoiding plastic. The seventh-grader from Central Middle School in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, tested natural plant compounds in a laboratory-made stomach environment to see whether they could capture and remove microplastics. According to her profile published by the Society for Science, Isabella found that okra, fenugreek and psyllium mucilages all removed microplastics from simulated gastric fluid within 60 minutes. Psyllium produced the strongest result, removing up to 93.3 percent at the highest concentration tested. Her project has earned her a place among the 2026 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge finalists, as per Society for Science. Read on to know more about Isabella's unique invention that can help save lives:A concern that became a research projectIsabella’s interest in microplastics began four years ago when she discovered how widespread these tiny plastic particles are. They can be found in the things people eat, drink and wear, as well as in the air t...