By Jamie Lasorsa
The day of creating the exploding volcano or electricity producing potato for your school science fair
project is long gone. Students today are creating projects that are more advanced, sophisticated, and
create solutions to life’s everyday problems. How to increase food supply, in an ever-growing
population, was what one student decided to tackle when she embarked on the journey of her Science
Project: “Breaking the Dormancy: The Effect of Plasma Ball Exposure on the Growth of Wisconsin
Fast Plants.”
Wachusett Regional High School Junior, Sarah Cox of Sterling, first became aware of this idea while
listening to a science podcast with her mother. Sarah became intrigued by the idea of using a Plasma
Ball to make seeds sprout faster, therefore speeding up the growing process of flower and/or food
producing plants.
The Plasma Ball, a popular kid’s toy, is a clear globe filled with neon gases and operates with a high-
voltage electrode (Tesla Coil) in the center. The ball emits electromagnetic radiation and creates a
visual of electric current passing through gas creating the “arms” that appear to be beams of light
when placing your hand to the globe.
Through her research, she found that by taping the seeds directly to the Plasma ball and exposing
them to the plasma (electromagnetic radiation) for varying amounts of time, she was able to increase
the germination rate of the seeds. The best results deriving from a 45min exposure time, creating
faster sprouting and taller plants in less time than with no plasma ball exposure at all.
Sarah’s project was among 40 projects competing in the 68th Annual WRHS Science Fair on March
1st. Sarah was extremely happy to come away in the top 12 of those projects with an Honorable
Mention moving her, along with other fellow WRHS top projects, on to the Worcester Regional Science
and Engineering Fair held on March 10th at Worcester Polytechnic Institute where there were roughly
100 projects competing. Although she didn’t place at the WPI event, Sarah was very pleased with the
outcome of her efforts.
Sarah also created projects for both her freshman and sophomore Science Fairs. Freshman year
her project was: “Go With the Flow – The Effect of Blade Design on the Energy Output of a Hydro
Turbine” and Sophomore year was “Cleaning Up the Bloom – The Effect of “Bubble Bandit Detergent”
on the Growth of Chlorella.”
Besides her love of science, Sarah is very involved in the arts as well. She played flute for the
Spring Musical’s Pit Orchestra performance of “Once Upon A Mattress,” she’s part of numerous band
organizations both at WRHS and within the community, including the Worcester Youth Symphony
Orchestra, Flute Choir, and playing alto saxophone in the Honors Jazz Band. Sarah is also active in
the Student Council, National Honor Society, and the Science Honor Society which serves as support
for freshman and sophomore students with projects and coordinating the fair for the following year.
Sarah plans to incorporate her love of science into her AP (Advanced Placement) Language class
“Save the World” project by proposing to bring science fairs to middle school students to help
introduce and nurture the love of science at an earlier age.
Sarah plans to continue following her love of science and music and is looking to make a career in
these fields, currently brainstorming ways she can incorporate them both. Although she has yet to
choose a Higher Education facility, she is looking to double major in Science and Music. One thing is
for certain, Sarah is a motivated, intelligent, and talented young person and there is no doubt she will
do great things!
