wk2 - My invention to save the earth

    If I had the chance to create one thing that could actually save the planet, I would prioritize creating an invention that would improve the state of our oceans. Our oceans are suffering, from plastic waste to rising temperatures to the death of coral reefs. So I came up with an idea I called "BlueGuard," a futuristic and practical invention that is a smart ocean cleaner, repairer, and protector all in one. It's a self-sustaining drone that floats on the ocean, powered by solar and hydropower, and can do everything from picking up plastic to absorbing ocean carbon.

    The problem I want to solve is no small matter. Every year, more than 8 million tons of plastic ends up in the ocean. That's like dumping a garbage truck full of plastic into the ocean every minute. Not only do they float ugly on the surface, but the microplastics they break down into harm the animals in the sea, enter the bodies of fish, and slowly poison the entire food chain, eventually flowing back to us humans. On top of that, the ocean is becoming more acidic because it absorbs too much atmospheric carbon dioxide. This harms coral reefs and makes it more difficult for marine life to survive. Climate change is hitting the ocean hard, and the more it loses, the more we all lose. (Fava, 2022b)

(NOAA Marine Debris Program, 2025)

That’s where BlueGuard comes in. Imagine a small stingray-shaped ocean drone, about 1.5 meters wide, floating on the water. It’s covered in solar panels on top and has micro-hydro turbines on the bottom, so it can recharge itself just by moving. It moves slowly across the sea, guided by artificial intelligence and sensors that help it detect plastics, monitor water conditions, and avoid marine life. It’s essentially an ocean-friendly smart sweeper robot, but it’s designed for the ocean.

BlueGuard collects plastic trash using a retractable net and soft suction arms that are gentle enough not to harm marine life. Once full, it compresses the trash into a container and stores it centrally for later collection. Even cooler, it’s equipped with a filter that removes microplastics from the water, inspired by chitosan, a natural substance found in crab shells. (Wikipedia contributors, 2025b) To maintain ocean health, it releases coral spores in coral reef areas to help damaged ecosystems regenerate. It even has a special carbon capture system underneath it that converts dissolved CO2 into harmless substances like carbonates.

(Stanton, 2008)

The science behind it is a mix of real-world tech and some futuristic thinking. Algae bioreactors have been used in labs to absorb carbon from water, (Nature Publishing Group, 2024) and some scientists have developed enzymes that can break down plastic. (Carrington, 2018) BlueGuard takes these ideas and combines them into a system that operates autonomously, is environmentally friendly, and requires no ongoing maintenance. I imagine it being used by environmental groups, schools, and even local communities. It also comes with a companion app that allows people to track the drone's operations, how much trash it collects, and even "adopt" a drone and name it.

If we had enough of these devices like tens of thousands, we could really reduce ocean pollution. Not only would they clean up trash, they would help restore coral reefs, protect marine animals, and reduce acidification. In the long run, this would make seafood safer to eat, protect biodiversity, and give the ocean a real chance to recover. Beaches would be cleaner, ecosystems would be healthier, and our children and grandchildren wouldn't have to grow up with marine life dying off.

This invention means a lot to me because the ocean is not something far away, it is part of our lives. It regulates the temperature of the Earth, provides food, and even creates the air we breathe. If we lose the ocean, we will lose everything. I believe innovations like this are key to fighting climate change. We have already caused a lot of damage, but this means we need to act faster, smarter, and more creatively. BlueGuard is my interpretation of this vision: technology and nature working hand in hand to repair what is broken.

Reference:

1. Fava, M. F. (2022b, June 9). Ocean plastic pollution an overview: data and statistics. Ocean Literacy Portal. https://oceanliteracy.unesco.org/plastic-pollution-ocean/
2. Wikipedia contributors. (2025b, June 23). Chitosan. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitosan
3. Nature Publishing Group. (2024). Boosting algae’s carbon absorption. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/d44151-024-00165-w
4. Carrington, D. (2018, April 18). Scientists accidentally create mutant enzyme that eats plastic bottles. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/16/scientists-accidentally-create-mutant-enzyme-that-eats-plastic-bottles
5. NOAA Marine Debris Program. (2025, April 10). Plastics in the ocean [Infographic]. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/multimedia/infographics/plastics-ocean-infographic
6. Stanton, A. (Director). (2008). WALL·E [Film]. Pixar Animation Studios; Walt Disney Pictures.