Dasia Taylor, a 17-year-old student from Iowa City, has found a way to detect an infected surgical wound.
Dasia found a suture thread that when dyed with beet juice, changes colour from bright red to dark purple, when a surgical wound becomes infected. Taylor's remarkable invention won several awards at regional science fairs and could potentially change the way surgical wounds are sutured.
In some African nations, up to 20 percent of women who give birth by C-section then develop surgical site infections.
/Passle/60211dc9e5416a0c14bc63d4/MediaLibrary/Images/2024-07-25-19-34-58-437-66a2a8e2012a075bf2d3886e.jpg)
The global issues we face are challenging and interconnected. They can seem insurmountable. But if you know where to look, co-operation, positive change and hope are all around us. Build Beyond Ever Better is a project that recognises the progress being made, and the amazing people who are making a difference. Share your own hopes, pledges and projects with #BBEB, or become a contributor.
Please read our BBEB Charter PDF.
/Passle/60211dc9e5416a0c14bc63d4/SearchServiceImages/2026-08-28-21-08-00-332-6a91f8b0de355275bbc2047e.jpg)
/Passle/60211dc9e5416a0c14bc63d4/SearchServiceImages/2026-09-01-19-40-59-331-6a972a4bf9386af8ea707113.jpg)
/Passle/60211dc9e5416a0c14bc63d4/SearchServiceImages/2026-09-03-11-57-48-238-6a9960bc7466c353608a92a5.jpg)
