Eye on the Y: BYU alumnus pioneers safe power tool for kids, BYU psychologist finds online communication cannot replace in-person interaction and BYU students study neurodiversity using zebrafish

BYU engineering alumnus pioneers safe power tool for kids

Max Liechty, a Brigham Young University mechanical engineering alumnus, invented a power tool to help kids innovate safely using a cardboard-cutting saw to create their own inventions.

Liechty and co-founder Kausi Raman presented their business, Chompshop, on "Shark Tank" in 2024, just two years after starting the company. After striking a deal with Mark and Lori for $250,000 in exchange for a 15% stake in the company, sales took off.

At the end of January 2026, Liechty and his team produced their 100,000th ChompSaw. The company has received countless recognitions, most recently winning Creative Toy of the Year at the Toy Foundation TOTY Awards.

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BYU psychologist finds in-person interaction to be irreplaceable

BYU psychology professor Dianne Tice found that while digital communication is common and convenient, it cannot fully replace the benefits of in-person interaction.

The study, published in Perspectives on Psychological Science, reviewed more than 1,000 comparisons of face-to-face and computer-mediated communication. Researchers found that online communication lacks the same nonverbal cues, body language and spontaneous moments that strengthen relationships.

Relying solely on these types of interactions can increase misunderstandings, weak social bonds and feelings of ambiguity. The study suggests that in-person communication cannot be replaced.

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Seeing the brain differently: The Suli Labs approach to neurodiversity

In the Arminda Suli Lab, BYU students study how early brain development influences autism spectrum disorder. The team focuses on a small, critical brain structure called the superior colliculus. Since it is difficult to study directly in humans, the lab uses zebrafish as a model organism.

Graduate student Kevin Gray researches how oxidative stress affects behavior. By genetically modifying zebrafish to induce controlled oxidative stress in specific neurons, the students examine how these factors impact hyperactivity, anxiety, predator avoidance and hunting.

The lab also emphasizes appreciation for neurodiversity. Suli encourages her students to develop a deeper respect for human diversity and experience.

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