Clear, unimpeded communication is the obsession of the modern age. Our most brilliant minds work tirelessly to connect the citizens of every nation, from every social strata. The ease of social media is now seen as a birthright—even by those who, just a decade ago, were reluctant to make purchases online. And of course, our tablets and cell phones have become intuitive extensions of our bodies. Since human beings have developed this emotional bond with their technology, it makes sense that a loss of battery life inspires an emotional response.

Eesha Khare (19) of Saratoga, California—runner-up at the 2013 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)—had one such experience when she found herself away from home, with a dead cell phone battery and no way to contact her parents. Unable to find a power source, she had to track down (and subsequently learn how to work) a pay phone, which is not so simple in this day and age. A loss of mobile energy created a scary reality for Eesha; connectivity is something she had been taking for granted. Then and there, she decided to do something about mobile device power.