dTHS News
Four dTHS Robotics Students Featured in the L.A. Daily News
Four de Toledo seniors – Jack T., Aaron M., Harrison B., and Ben R. – have recently been accepted to present their innovative light therapy prototype at the NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop (HRP IWS) 2025.
A recent front page article in the Los Angeles Daily News profiled these students' remarkable scientific research and accomplishments:
https://www.dailynews.com/2025/01/30/four-boys-in-san-fernando-valley-created-a-way-to-help-astronauts-in-orbit/?share=soebwswhlvdytyp2aplw
https://www.dailynews.com/2025/01/30/four-boys-in-san-fernando-valley-created-a-way-to-help-astronauts-in-orbit/?share=soebwswhlvdytyp2aplw
With their recognition, the four students were invited to Space Center Houston, where they presented their research findings to NASA mission scientists and biomedical engineers, along with their patented and operational prototype for a product designed to help mitigate some of the mental health issues expected to arise during future attempts to establish human colonies on the moon and/or Mars.
The students’ “Pinacal” device is specifically engineered to offset the disruptions to the circadian rhythms experienced by astronauts whose 24-hour cycle has a new day/night every 90 minutes.
Our four students have been independently involved in this research since they were in 6th grade as part of the local Abraham Joshua Heschel Day School robotics team. Since then, they have competed in Uruguay in the First Lego League World Championships, obtained a United States patent, and worked with the director of the University of Southern California’s Space Engineering Research Center to further develop their project.
In January 2025, the de Toledo team also presented their research findings at the 2025 NASA HRP IWS (NASA Human Research Program Investigators' Workshop) conference in Galveston, Texas.
Located in the San Fernando Valley portion of the City of Los Angeles in Northern Los Angeles County. de Toledo High School is accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and Builders of Jewish Education (BJE,) and financially supported by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and the Jim Joseph Foundation.
