18-year-old builds AI system to track particle collisions, wins $40,000
Seth Nabat, an 18-year-old student, won $40,000 in the Regeneron Science Talent Search for developing an AI system that improves the analysis of high-energy particle collisions. His machine-learning model helps physicists handle imperfect data while maintaining computational efficiency.
Why it matters
It highlights the growing role of AI in fundamental scientific research and the importance of youth participation in STEM fields.
Every year, nearly 1,900 of the nation’s most promising high school seniors submit original research to the Regeneron Science Talent Search (Regeneron STS), the oldest and most prestigious science and mathematics competition in the United States. According to the Society for Science, which runs the competition, the Regeneron STS recognises and empowers young scientists who are developing ideas that could solve society’s most urgent challenges. Started in 1942 as the Westinghouse Science Talent Search, the competition has a long history of identifying future leaders in STEM. Among the 2026 top ten winners was Seth Nabat, an 18-year-old from Winnetka, California, who earned tenth place and a $40,000 award for his innovative machine-learning project on particle collisions.
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