At age 17, American student researcher Dasia Taylor developed a low-cost surgical suture designed to change colour when infection develops in a wound, an invention that drew national attention for combining medical innovation with healthcare accessibility.

Taylor began the project in 2019 while studying at Iowa City West High School in Iowa. The idea emerged after a classroom discussion about science fairs and medical technologies, leading her to investigate advanced “smart” sutures already under development in the healthcare industry.

Existing smart sutures can detect infection-related changes by measuring electrical resistance and transmitting alerts through connected digital systems. However, Taylor concluded that such technologies were often expensive and difficult to deploy in low-resource healthcare settings lacking reliable internet access, smartphones or advanced medical infrastructure.

Instead, she focused on creating a simpler and less costly alternative that could visually indicate infection without requiring electronic equipment.Taylor’s breakthrough came after researching pH changes associated with infected wounds. She found that infected tissue typically becomes more alkaline and discovered that beet juice naturally changes colour at roughly the same pH range.

Using beet-derived dye applied to cotton-polyester surgical thread, Taylor developed sutures that shifted from bright red to dark purple under infection-like laboratory conditions.According to her tests, the colour transition occurred within approximately five minutes after exposure to pH levels associated with wound infection.

In the design, the beet extract functioned as the chemical sensor reacting to pH changes, while the cotton-polyester thread acted as the physical carrier for the dye compound.Taylor said the project evolved gradually through experimentation rather than beginning as a fully developed invention.

The work attracted attention because it addressed both scientific and public health concerns simultaneously. Taylor repeatedly framed the project around accessibility and affordability, particularly for communities where infections may go undetected because of limited healthcare resources.Her focus on equity later shaped the name of her venture, Variegate, which she said referenced both colour variation and social diversity.

Born in Chicago in 2004 and later raised in Iowa, Taylor has spoken publicly about growing up in a single-parent household and said those experiences influenced her interest in healthcare accessibility and social inequality.Alongside her scientific research, she became involved in educational and racial equity advocacy during her school years, participating in school board discussions and supporting conversations around anti-racist educational initiatives.

Taylor’s research project gained recognition through state and regional science competitions before reaching national prominence in 2021, when she was named one of 40 finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, one of the most prominent science competitions for high school students in the United States.She also received the Seaborg Award as part of the competition.

Her work has since been featured by national media outlets and science education organisations, including appearances on PBS NewsHour and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.Taylor is currently studying at the University of Iowa while continuing efforts to patent the infection-detecting sutures and expand her healthcare-focused research initiatives.Medical researchers have increasingly explored “smart” wound-care materials capable of identifying infection earlier than traditional visual diagnosis.

Infections often alter wound chemistry before severe physical symptoms become visible, making early detection an important focus in surgical recovery and public health research.

Taylor’s work drew attention partly because it proposed a simpler, visually observable approach using widely available materials rather than relying on expensive digital monitoring systems.

The project has been widely cited by educators and STEM advocacy groups as an example of student-led innovation aimed at solving practical healthcare problems with low-cost solutions.

Organized by student groups Diwan and Estiraha in collaboration with KFUPM Student Affairs, the exhibition recreated the experience of these cafes where visitors once paid to check emails, browse the web, and connect socially, while blending history with contemporary art and technology.

Although the initiative was led by Gen Z students in their early 20s, including Diwan founder Fajer Al-Mindeel and creative director Wateen Al-Zahrani, the exhibition attracted visitors of all ages, allowing both younger attendees and alumni to engage with a piece of digital history.

Al-Mindeel explained that the inspiration for the event came from spending time on campus and learning about the stories behind the university’s buildings, prompting the team to recreate an experience that honored the cultural and technological past of KFUPM.

KFUPM, founded in 1963 as an all-boys school, has recently begun enrolling women, and several female students featured in the exhibition are among the first graduating class, highlighting both the evolving inclusivity and rich heritage of the university.

Al-Zahrani noted, “One of the most rewarding aspects of organizing the exhibition was reconnecting with alumni who have deep ties to the university, retrieving personal archives, and incorporating their memories into the installations, which created a meaningful and immersive experience for all visitors.”

The students specifically chose Building 10 to host the event, a space that historically served as a cultural hub for performances and movie nights in the 1980s and ’90s but had recently been limited to academic functions, allowing the exhibition to revive the building’s original communal spirit.

Al-Mindeel added, “The venue has historical significance, including hosting a speech by Queen Elizabeth II, and we wanted to combine that heritage with a modern exploration of digital culture and technology, creating a bridge between past and present.”

The exhibition featured works by 14 artists, both Saudi and international, including Mohammad Al-Faraj, Basmah Felemban, Sarah Abu Abdullah, Asaad Badawi, Ally Yanxiu Liu, Abdulelah Quttub, Fai Ahmed, Rama Saputra, Sumayah Fallatah, Dalal Madhi, Hamdan Ahmed, Khaled Makhshoush, and Studio Bin Hattan, whose creations either were commissioned specifically for the event or developed in recent years.

The installations included 12 archive computers from the university, historical books from the library, contemporary artworks, and immersive sound design, with potted plants and interactive elements enhancing the atmosphere and encouraging visitors to reflect on their evolving relationship with technology.

Al-Mindeel highlighted that some of the works explored important contemporary issues, such as environmental impact, showing how daily interactions with technology, including AI platforms, have consequences that are often overlooked but increasingly relevant in modern society.

Student Jood Alshikhi shared her perspective, saying, “The exhibition’s strength was in how it intertwined past and present, beginning with memories of early encounters with computers and transitioning into a modern, art-focused digital world, illustrating how our use of technology has transformed from shared social moments to personalized, creative experiences.”

Visitors left with a sense of both nostalgia and awareness, seeing firsthand how early internet culture has influenced current digital habits, while experiencing a dynamic space that combined historical artifacts, artistic expression, and interactive technology to engage multiple generations.

The event successfully celebrated KFUPM’s history and student creativity, demonstrating how younger generations can honor the past while innovatively interpreting technology’s role in society, fostering community connection, and reviving cultural traditions on campus.