Chemotherapy is a grueling treatment, often accompanied by difficult side effects, such as hair loss. Olivia Humphreys, 24, faced this problem when her mother battled cancer in 2019. Determined to find a solution, she came up with Athena, a wearable device to prevent hair loss by cooling the scalp .
The helmet that brings smiles back to chemotherapy patients
Unlike existing equipment, which is often heavy, expensive (around 20,000 euros) and available only in a few hospitals, Athena is a compact, battery-powered device, which costs around 1,000 euros. With its lightweight design (3 kg) and battery life of 3.5 hours, patients can use it at home or even while traveling to the hospital.
Athena consists of an adjustable helmet and a case containing the cooling system based on Peltier modules. These help maintain a low temperature by circulating cold water around the scalp. By making this technology accessible, Olivia hopes to give patients a sense of control over their treatment. James Dyson, the famous inventor behind the prize, welcomes this approach: “ Athena provides an affordable and humane solution to a problem that affects so many people. »
To democratize the use of her invention, Olivia plans to collaborate with hospitals and associations to offer Athena for rental or loan. Building on this prize, she also intends to explore new technologies to further improve the care of chemotherapy patients.
On the sustainable development side, the prize goes to two young researchers from Singapore, Shane Kyi Hla Win and Danial Sufiyan Bin Shaiful. Their invention, airXeed, addresses a major environmental problem: weather balloons. These devices, essential for collecting climate data, are now disposable and generate tons of plastic and electronic waste each year.
The two engineers designed a reusable radiosonde that mimics the spiral movement of maple seeds as they fall. This system allows airXeed to descend slowly and safely, avoiding collisions with aircraft and facilitating its recovery. Equipped with GPS and an advanced navigation system, the radiosonde even chooses the most suitable landing zone.
Their design, which uses lightweight materials like balsa and recyclable foam, reduces ecological impact while increasing the amount of atmospheric data collected. A real breakthrough for the weather forecasting sector, whose demand continues to grow in the face of extreme weather phenomena.
« This invention combines ingenuity, efficiency and durability. It promises to revolutionize weather forecasting while reducing waste. » sums up James Dyson. Its prize, created almost 20 years ago, celebrates inventions designed by young engineers and designers each year.
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