16-year-old South African invents wonder material to fight drought

By Kieron Monks, for CNN

Updated 0213 GMT (1013 HKT) August 15, 2016

South African Kiara Nirghin, 16, won Google's Community Impact Award for creating a super absorbent polymer that could be used to combat the nation's crippling drought crisis.

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Precocious talent – South African Kiara Nirghin, 16, won Google's Community Impact Award for creating a super absorbent polymer that could be used to combat the nation's crippling drought crisis.

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The polymer uses orange peel and avocado skins, which combine to form a material that can store hundreds of times its weight in water, creating reservoirs that would allow farmers to maintain their crops through droughts.

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Sustainable solution – The polymer uses orange peel and avocado skins, which combine to form a material that can store hundreds of times its weight in water, creating reservoirs that would allow farmers to maintain their crops through droughts.

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South Africa is experiencing the worst droughts on record, with thousands of communities and millions of people experiencing water shortages.

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Urgent crisis – South Africa is experiencing the worst droughts on record, with thousands of communities and millions of people experiencing water shortages.

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