Sound can extinguish a flame. That counterintuitive principle sits at the heart of Vortex Techa prototype fire suppression device built by Angela Karime Venegas Hernandeza high school student from CETis 78 in Altamira, Tamaulipas, Mexico.
At the International Science and Invention Fair (ISIF 2026) in Indonesia, Venegas e Gold medalaccording to reporting by El País, Infobae, and El Financiero. Reports indicate that the competition is approximately included 110 selected projects from around 25 countries, although published accounts vary on the precise total.
How Vortex Tech Works
The prototype uses low-frequency sound waves to disrupt the combustion environment of a flame without applying water, foam or chemical powder.
A 12-volt battery Power a frequency generator, an amplifier and a speaker. These components produce acoustic waves at approx 30 hertznear the lower limit of typical human hearing, creates air turbulence around a flame that needs the oxygen supply combustion needs to survive.
Think of it like blowing out a candle, but with physics doing the work instead of your lungs. In demonstrations, the prototype reportedly extinguished small flames within about five to eight seconds, although this figure reflects controlled prototype conditions, not an overall safety rating.
The suppression mechanism does not immediately release water, foam or chemical powder. The system still requires electrical components and a power source, so “chemical-free” describes the suppression method, not the entire device.
The competition and recognition
Vortex Tech earned regional recognition in Tamaulipas before advancing to an international stage in Indonesia.
The project, also formally described as “Fire Suppression System Using Acoustic”, had already earned recognition in a Tamaulipas state creativity and technological innovation competition before the international event. Her advisor was identified as Jose Arturo Hernandez Muñoz.
At ISIF 2026, the project not only earned the gold medal, but also the IYSA Semi Grand Awardwhich gives Venegas the opportunity to participate in the Indonesia International Applied Science Project Olympiad (I2ASPO). Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly congratulated Venegas after the award, drawing wider national attention to the project, according to Excelsior.
What the prototype is and is not
Vortex Tech is an experimental student prototype, and the competition award does not establish compliance with professional fire protection standards.
Vortex Tech is not commercially certified as a fire extinguisher. The gold medal confirms recognition within a student science competition, not a professional fire protection award.
Effectiveness in real-world conditions depends on flame size, fuel type, distance from device, acoustic intensity, and ambient air flow. The provided reporting does not establish performance against larger fires or different fuel classes, and the device does not replace certified extinguishers, sprinkler systems, fire alarms or emergency services.
What comes next
Further independent testing and regulatory review would be required before any practical use of the technology.
Before Vortex Tech could move toward practical deployment, it would require controlled independent testing and repeatability studies across multiple fire scenarios. Safety analysis and review against applicable fire equipment regulations would also be required. The report provided does not indicate that this work has started.
What the project establishes, clearly, is that a student from Tamaulipas has built something original enough to deserve international recognition. This achievement puts Mexican applied science on a competitive global stage, and for experimental acoustic suppression research it is a legitimate starting point.