Cambridge student, 12, turns movement into energy, eyes $25K prize

 A 12-year-old Cambridge student, Ahmed Abdelsalam, has created VERDA, a system that captures energy from movement like walking, wind and waves. His clean energy idea has earned him a place among 10 finalists in the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge, where he will compete for a $25,000 prize. A 12-year-old Cambridge student, Ahmed Abdelsalam, has created VERDA, a system that captures energy from movement like walking, wind and waves. His clean energy idea has earned him a place among 10 finalists in the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge, where he will compete for a $25,000 prize.