Saratoga Teen's Research Takes Science World By Storm

SARATOGA (KPIX 5) -- 18-year-old Eesha Khare, a senior at Lynbrook High School, has been recognized as one of the best young scientists in the world.

"I'm in a daze. I can't believe this happened," Eesha told KPIX 5.

The Saratoga teenager is one of two runners up at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, which took place in Phoenix this week. Eesha beat out more than 1,600 finalists from more than 70 countries.

After picking her up from the airport Friday night, her family watched the video as she received the Young Scientist Award for her research in chemistry.

"We couldn't believe it. So unreal," said Reena Khare, Eesha's mother.

"Super exciting," Manoj Khare, Eesha's father said.

Eesha created a tiny device that fits inside a cellphone battery, it can charge in 20 to 30 seconds.

"My project, I developed a new supercapacitor, which is basically an energy storage device which can hold a lot of energy in a small amount of volume," Eesha described.

Eesha's invention can also be used in car batteries.

With her $50,000 prize, Eesha will go to Harvard University this fall and fuel her passion for research. She has already received some interest from Mountain View tech giant Google.

"I will be setting the world on fire," she said.

But first, Eesha will recharge her own batteries. Scientist or not, senior prom is on Saturday.

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