{
  "id": 22535,
  "title": "Florida sixth-grader makes soil balls to save water, eyes $25,000 prize",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/07/29/florida-sixth-grader-makes-soil-balls-to-save-water-eyes-25-000-prize",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-07-29T12:52:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/education/news/florida-sixth-grader-naboshree-santra-developed-biodegradable-soilshade-balls-designed-to-reduce-evaporation-and-retain-moisture-the-11-year-old-is-now-competing-for-a-25000-science-prize/articleshow/132712215.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "An 11-year-old student from Oviedo, Florida, named Naboshree Santra, has invented a biodegradable soil ball to assist farmers in conserving water during dry spells. This innovative creation, made from natural materials, slows down water evaporation and enables the soil to retain moisture for a more extended period. Naboshree's invention has earned her a place among the 10 finalists in the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge, which presents a $25,000 grand prize to the winner. The 19th annual competition, organized by 3M and Discovery Education, encourages students in grades five to eight to apply science, technology, engineering, and math to address everyday problems. Naboshree developed her soil ball idea as an environmentally friendly solution to address drought conditions in farmland. She expressed her excitement about participating in the competition, learning from expert scientists, and receiving mentorship to refine her invention further. In October, Naboshree, along with the other finalists, will travel to the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, to present her soil ball and compete for the top prize.",
  "summary": "An 11-year-old Florida student has reached the finals of a national science competition. Her innovative soilshade balls help farmers conserve water during dry weather conditions. This eco-friendly invention slows evaporation and keeps soil moist for extended periods. She will compete for a $25,000 prize and mentorship from 3M scientists. The competition celebrates young innovators using STEM to…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}