Four year 7 students from Hexham Middle School in Northumberland have been named UK Young Scientists of the Year 2026 for their project exploring how biochar affects plant growth. Jessica Dowdall, Lauren Dowdall, Martha Pugh and Meike Oakes won the top award at The Big Bang Competition for their climate-focused research, which aims to help farmers and gardeners grow food while reducing carbon emissions. Their work shows how adding biochar to soil can boost plant growth and lock away carbon.