The Kids' Science Challenge, a nationwide competition for elementary school children enrolled in 3rd to 6th grade, recently announced the winners of this year's challenge. While they came from different parts of the country and ranged from 4th to 6th graders, they all had one thing in common - A great original idea.

The challenge sponsored by National Science Foundation's Pulse of The Planet, attracted a record 1,600 entries from aspiring young scientists. This year, contestants were asked to pick from one of three categories: Bio Inspired Design, Sports on Mars and Detective Science. Below, are the winners in each category:

Bio Inspired Design

Olivia Smith Donovan, a 4th grader from Claymont Elementary in Wilmington, Delaware impressed the judges with her simple, but brilliant suggestion of using 'helicopter seeds' (maple tree seeds) to safely and quickly drop emergency parcels and people from great heights.

As part of her prize, Olivia will be flown to California, where she will work with scientists from UC Berkeley and UC Merced and test if her idea can be used in real life. She will also receive a VIP tour of the San Diego Zoo, a telescope from Jakks Pacific and tons of other great prizes. To check them all out go to www.kidsciencechallenge.com.

Sports On Mars

The winning entry in this category came from Tyrone Hutchinson II, a 5th grader at Lyons Elementary School in Lyons, New York. Tyron's 'soft magnetic ball', involves covering a magnetic ball with as much magnetic soil as possible. The astronauts players (dressed in golden suits to reflect the sun) would try put the ball into a basketball hoop, under which is placed a basket. The team that fills the basket first, wins the game.

Tyrone will now work with NASA scientists in Pasadena, California to see if 'soft magnetic ball' will ever be a reality on Mars. He will also get a free week at Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, a space exploration kit and other fun prizes. Check them out at www.kidsciencechallenge.com.

Detective Science

A duo of sixth-graders, Mason Wonka and Caitlyn Taylor from Storm Grove Middle School in Vero Beach, Florida, came up with the winning idea in this category. While everyone in Florida knows that the coral reefs are dying because of dredging, nobody knows which company is responsible. They suggested that someone should collect samples of sediment that have been dumped around the coral, compare them to samples from past dredging - then figure out which company did the job and hopefully, nail the culprit.

They will get to test their 'Sherlock Holmes' investigative skills with some real Forensic Scientists at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. In addition to that, they also won a free week to Pali Overnight Adventures, a Secret Agent Camp in Lake Arrowhead, California, an Eyeclops Bionic Eye and many other fun items. Check them all out at www.kidsciencechallenge.com.

Besides the first place winners, up to five runner-ups from each category also received amazing prizes. And if that is not enough, the first 1,000 entrants received a science kit, just for sending in their entries. So be sure to mark your calendars for next year's Kids' Science Challenge and see if you have what it takes to become one of America's top young scientists.

source: kidssciencechalleng.com