Sirish Subash set himself apart with his AI-based sensor to win the grand prize of $25,000 cash and the prestigious title of "America's Top Young Scientist."

Like most inventors, Sirish was intrigued with curiosity and a simple question. His mother always insisted that he wash the fruit before eating it, and the boy wondered if the preventative action actually did any good.

He learned that 70% of produce items contain pesticide residues that are linked to possible health problems like cancer and Alzheimer's—and washing only removes part of the contamination.

"If we could detect them, we could avoid consuming them, and reduce the risk of those health issues."