Tanish Veernapalli and Saketh Babu Kollipara, both 11th-grade students at Indus International School in Hyderabad, are tackling the issue of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), known as 'forever chemicals' due to their persistence in the environment. With mentorship from the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, the students transitioned their after-school project into a significant research endeavor. They utilized bioinformatics and machine learning to analyze environmental datasets, identifying nearly 20 promising molecules capable of degrading PFAS. A key discovery was the potential of epoxide hydrolases, a class of enzymes previously unassociated with PFAS breakdown. Their innovative approach has earned them accolades, including a gold medal at the Indian National Science and Engineering Fair and selection for the international Genius Olympiad. Currently, they continue to validate their findings with IIT Hyderabad's support, aiming to address a critical global environmental issue.