Boy Genius May Save Lives

Thirteen-year-old Rishab Jain is more than America’s Top Young Scientist — he’s a hero in the fight against a deadly cancer. On Oct. 16, the Portland, Ore., middle school student won $25,000 in the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge for developing an algorithm that may help doctors zero in on the difficult-to-spot pancreas during cancer treatment. Pancreatic cancer has a 7 percent fiveyear survival rate, so his work could be crucial. “I had a family friend pass away from this disease,” Rishab said of his personal victory.