Bellevue teen builds AI to predict air turbulence, wins $100K

An 18-year-old student from Bellevue, Washington, has built an artificial intelligence model designed to predict dangerous clear-air turbulence, earning a $100,000 (£75,000) scholarship from the Davidson Institute. Aditya Sengupta developed the machine-learning system, named ForeCAT, after experiencing severe and unexpected turbulence during commercial flights. The Davidson Institute, an American educational foundation supporting high-achieving youth, named Sengupta a 2026 Davidson Fellow Laureate for his independent research combining atmospheric physics with computing to solve aviation hazards. Clear-air turbulence occurs without visual indicators such as cloud formations or severe storms.