Mexican student creates sound-based fire extinguisher and wins gold medal

Mexican student Ángela Karime Hernández Venegas, 16, won the gold medal at the 2026 International Science and Invention Fair (ISIF) in Indonesia with an experimental portable acoustic fire extinguisher called “Vortex Tech.”

The student, who attends CETIS 78 in Altamira, Tamaulipas, received the top award in the technology category for a device designed to extinguish small flames using low-frequency sound waves instead of conventional methods such as water or chemical powders.

Vortex Tech consists of a battery, an amplifier and a speaker. The experimental device uses sound to disrupt the conditions that allow a flame to burn. Its design was inspired by previous research conducted by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

The competition took place from October 13 to 17, 2026, bringing together approximately 110 projects from 25 countries. In addition to the gold medal, Hernández Venegas received the IYSA Semi Grand Award, which grants her direct entry into another international online science competition.

The student developed the project under the guidance of teacher Arturo Hernández Muñoz. Her achievement also drew attention from Mexican authorities. President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly congratulated her, while the country’s science ministry contacted the student to assess her prototype.

The project remains experimental, and its performance and potential applications would require further technical evaluation.