Meet Vera Wang: Teen scientist finds fungi that can break down plastic, sunscreen

Wang’s work, done in the lab of Anthony Amend at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, was recognized at the 2026 Hawaiʻi State Science & Engineering Fair What started as a high school project to clean polluted ocean water has turned into a promising scientific discovery. Hawaii’s Kaiser High School senior Vera Wang was the first to look into using coconut waste to filter microplastics and sunscreen from seawater, states a news report by University of Hawai'i News. Two years later, her research has taken an interesting turn, with naturally occurring fungi in coconut husks that can break down plastic and sunscreen. Wang’s work, done in the lab of Anthony Amend at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, was recognized at the 2026 Hawaiʻi State Science & Engineering Fair and could lead to new ways to tackle some of the most stubborn pollutants plaguing marine environments, adds the report. Scroll down to read the details of innovation.A new scientific question from a coconut-based filterIn the 10th grade of schooling, Wang began the project, developing an ocean filter that took inspiration from Polynesian weaving traditions. The filter used coconut byproducts to remove microplastics...