Matthew Sleman, a 7-year-old boy from Monroe, New Jersey, has been granted a patent for his invention of color-changing building blocks called aquabricks. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office recognized Matthew for his innovation, which involves plastic blocks that dry white but turn clear when wet, revealing a new color. Matthew came up with the idea when he was 5 years old while playing with Lego blocks. With the help of his father, who is a patent attorney, they developed the idea and submitted a patent application in February 2022. The patent was issued in May. Matthew is now recognized as one of the youngest patent holders in the country.
The aquabricks website states that Matthew aims to transform the way we play and hopes to inspire other young inventors. The story of Matthew's invention is part of a Young Innovators series on the patent office's website, highlighting young inventors who are changing the world through problem-solving and innovation. [286058aa]
Ryan 'The Brickman' McNaught, a certified professional Lego builder, discusses his experience in the field. McNaught and his team spent 1,500 hours building a life-size Tyrannosaurus Rex using 400,000 Lego bricks. Their biggest order consisted of four shipping containers full of Lego. McNaught describes being a professional Lego builder as being 'like a kid in a candy shop'. He also highlights the educational value of playing with Lego bricks for children. [a52afe9d]
Ben Edlavitch, a local Lego enthusiast from Richmond, participated in the fourth season of 'Lego Masters' on Fox in fall 2023. He and his grandfather, David Levine, were among 12 teams chosen from over 2,000 applicants. Edlavitch, a student at the University of Virginia studying community-focused architecture, sees Lego bricks as an essential aspect of his approach to architecture. He has created various architectural builds, including a model of the Virginia Executive Mansion and a replica of a Nils Westergard mural. Some of Edlavitch's creations will be on display at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture's Lego-focused exhibition 'Traveling Bricks' from Oct. 19, 2024, to Jan. 5, 2025. Edlavitch will also offer kids' workshops combining Lego and architecture during the exhibition. He hopes to bring architecture into the present day by connecting imaginative play with the profession and making it more accessible to a diverse and creative audience. [a0729472]