International Young Scientist Awards

AI agents, multimodal models, an emphasis on real-world results -- learn about the top AI and machine learning trends and what they mean for businesses in 2025. Hype gives way to more pragmatic approaches Since 2022, there's been an explosion of interest and innovation in generative AI , but actual adoption remains inconsistent. Companies often struggle to move generative AI projects, whether internal productivity tools or customer-facing applications, from pilot to production. Although many businesses have explored generative AI through proofs of concept, fewer have fully integrated it into their operations. In a September 2024 research report, Informa TechTarget's Enterprise Strategy Group found that, although over 90% of organizations had increased their generative AI use over the previous year, only 8% considered their initiatives mature. "The most surprising thing for me [in 2024] is actually the lack of adoption that we're seeing," said Jen Stave, launch dir...

  In a groundbreaking development, Chinese scientists have identified a previously unknown strain of bacteria aboard the Tiangong space station , raising new questions about microbial survival in extraterrestrial environments. The discovery was made during routine microbial monitoring procedures conducted by astronauts and researchers, aiming to ensure the station remains a safe and sterile environment for long-duration human habitation. The newly discovered bacteria exhibit unique characteristics not found in similar Earth-bound microorganisms. Scientists suggest that the microgravity , radiation exposure , and confined environment of the space station may have influenced the bacteria’s evolution, leading to adaptations that are rarely observed on Earth. These adaptations could include increased resistance to antibiotics, changes in metabolic function, or enhanced survival mechanisms — all of which are of great interest to the scientific and medical communities . Microbial li...

For decades, Venus was considered a geologically dormant planet, its surface shaped by ancient volcanic and tectonic activity long since faded. However, a groundbreaking study using 36-year-old data from NASA's Magellan mission has revealed that Venus is still very much alive geologically. Scientists analyzing radar imagery from the 1990s found compelling evidence of tectonic shifts, including major quakes and surface deformations that have transformed the planet’s crust over time.   By comparing archival radar images with more recent high-resolution data, researchers identified previously unnoticed changes in Venus's landscape—primarily around fault lines and volcanic regions. These shifts suggest that Venus experiences "venusquakes," similar to earthquakes on Earth, which have altered the planet’s surface dramatically. The new analysis shows movement along fault lines, collapses of volcanic roofs, and subtle shifts in terrain, all pointing toward active internal dy...

In a groundbreaking development, scientists at the National Institute for Agricultural Botany (NIAB) have utilized CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology to pinpoint a crucial protein that could pave the way for new therapeutic interventions against Toxoplasmosis, a globally prevalent zoonotic infection caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii.   Toxoplasmosis affects more than a third of the global population and poses severe health risks to immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, and livestock. It can lead to complications such as encephalitis, miscarriage, and developmental defects. While the disease is often asymptomatic in healthy individuals, its zoonotic potential—transmitting from animals to humans—makes it a critical concern in both public health and veterinary domains. NIAB’s team employed CRISPR gene-editing to systematically disrupt genes within T. gondii, ultimately identifying a novel protein essential for parasite survival and host invasion. Disrupti...

  The presence of water on Earth is one of the defining features that makes our planet habitable. For decades, scientists have explored the origins of Earth's water, and contrary to the once-popular belief that it appeared suddenly due to a singular massive event, current research supports the idea that water arrived gradually over millions—if not billions—of years.   During Earth's early formation around 4.5 billion years ago, the planet was a molten mass, constantly bombarded by cosmic debris. It was during this chaotic time that water began to make its way to Earth. One key source was asteroids and comets—particularly carbonaceous chondrites, a type of water-rich meteorite. These space rocks carried water in the form of hydrated minerals or ice, and as they collided with Earth, they deposited their contents. Another major contributor was volcanic outgassing. As Earth’s interior cooled, water vapor and other gases were released through intense volcanic activity. These gases ...

scientists have made significant progress in solving the mystery of gold’s origin in the universe, though research is still ongoing. For many years, the question of where heavy elements like gold come from puzzled astronomers and physicists. Gold cannot be formed through the normal nuclear fusion that powers stars, as fusion in stars primarily creates lighter elements like hydrogen, helium, carbon, and oxygen. Heavier elements such as gold require far more extreme environments.   Recent breakthroughs suggest that gold is primarily formed in cosmic cataclysms—especially during the collision of neutron stars. Neutron stars are incredibly dense remnants of supernova explosions, containing about 1.4 times the mass of the Sun packed into a sphere only about 10 kilometers in diameter. When two of these stars spiral inward and merge, the conditions become extreme enough to facilitate a process known as rapid neutron capture, or the r-process. This process can produce heavy elements like g...

 Quantum computing is emerging as a transformative technology in the field of materials science, offering revolutionary capabilities that go far beyond the reach of classical computing. Traditional methods often struggle to simulate and predict the behavior of complex materials at the atomic and molecular levels due to the enormous computational power required. Quantum computers, with their ability to process information using quantum bits (qubits) that exist in multiple states simultaneously, can model quantum systems with remarkable precision and efficiency. One of the key challenges in materials science is understanding the quantum behavior of electrons in atoms and molecules—critical for predicting material properties such as conductivity, magnetism, reactivity, and structural stability. Quantum computing allows researchers to simulate these interactions directly, making it possible to explore novel materials, catalysts, superconductors, and polymers with improved properties a...

  NASA's Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer—better known as SPHEREx—has officially begun its ambitious mission to map the entire sky in unprecedented detail. Scheduled for launch in 2025, SPHEREx is a space-based observatory designed to conduct an all-sky survey in near-infrared light, offering a unique and comprehensive look into the cosmos. SPHEREx's primary objective is to create a detailed spectral map of the sky by measuring light at 96 different wavelengths. This data will allow scientists to tackle some of the most profound questions in astrophysics, including how the universe evolved, how galaxies formed, and where life-essential elements like water and organic molecules are distributed across our galaxy. One of SPHEREx's most exciting goals is to explore the "cosmic dawn"—the era when the first stars and galaxies formed. By analyzing light that has traveled for billions of years, SPHEREx can study t...