Ann Makosinski: Power from the Palm of Your Hand

Lexile: 740 | Grade: 4

Passage

Ann Makosinski was just 15 years old when she invented something amazing—a flashlight that runs on body heat. That means no batteries, no solar power—just the warmth from your hand!

Ann, who is from Canada, had a friend in the Philippines who didn’t always have electricity. That made it hard to study at night. Ann wanted to help, so she looked for a way to create light without needing a plug or battery.

She learned about special materials that can turn heat into electricity. After many tests, she built a flashlight that turned her idea into reality.

In 2013, Ann won an award at the Google Science Fair for her invention. She became famous around the world as a young inventor with a big idea.

But Ann didn’t stop there. She began working on more inventions and encouraging other young people—especially girls—to become scientists and problem-solvers.

Ann’s story shows that with curiosity, care, and creativity, even teens can change the world.