Inspired by mussels, this 12-year-old Florida student is competing for a $25,000 prize with her eco-friendly adhesive

Aaisha Asif, a 12-year-old sixth-grader at Pine View School in Florida, is a finalist in the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge.

She developed a mussel-inspired adhesive that uses natural proteins and iron-based crosslinkers to reduce harmful VOCs.

The project uses biomimicry to create an eco-friendly alternative to conventional adhesives.

She is one of 10 finalists competing for the $25,000 grand prize in October, guided by a 3M scientist.