A sweetener wrapped in a soluble organic starch that melts in a drink -- instead of creating an empty sugar packet that must be discarded -- seemed like a sweet idea to President Barack Obama.
At the White House Science Fair Tuesday, the president told Downtown Magnets High School junior Hayley Hoverter that her project could save millions of pounds of trash per year.
"Tell me when I can buy stock," President Obama told 16-year-old Hayley.
The sweetener, called Sweet (dis)SOLVE, is made from organic sugar. Instead of tearing open a paper wrapper and pouring the sugar in a drink, just drop in the entire packet and watch it melt away -- no odor, taste, calories or waste.
Hayley already has a provisional patent on Sweet (dis)SOLVE.
"I can't figure out -- with all the innovations in the business world -- why a person must waste so much to do something as trivial as sweeten their favorite beverage," she said.
Watch the video below to hear Hayley's explanation of Sweet (dis)SOLVE.
Another LA-area student, 15-year-old Braeden Benedict of Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, also visited the White House Tuesday to show off a device that can help detect concussions. The impact detection device would be worn on football helmets to warn coaches and trainers when a hit generated enough force to cause a concussion.
The White House event is a gathering of all-stars who excel in math and science.
"If we are recognizing athletic achievement, then we should also be recognizing academic achievement and science achievement,'' the president said. "If we invite the team that wins the Super Bowl to the White House, then we need to invite some science fair winners to the White House as well."
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Hayley Hoverter - Sweet (dis)SOLVE from NFTE on Vimeo.
