Teen Nanotube Researcher Wins Science Fair Top Honors

Philip Streich, 16, of Platteville, Wis., was named one of the top three winners of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF), receiving a $50,000

Philip Streich with his award-winning project at Intel ISEF 2007.

college scholarship. Intel ISEF said his research study provided the first evidence that carbon nanotubes, which are among the strongest and most conductive materials in the world, are thermodynamically soluble. He also quantified that solubility and its limits by using static light scattering to measure a parameter called the second virial coefficient B. These findings may be the key to finally realizing the potential of nanotubes as a supermaterial, Intel ISEF said. Streich and the other two $50,000 winners were selected from more than 1500 young scientists representing 51 countries at the event, held May 14-19 in Albuquerque, N.M.