Teen Prodigy Unveils 1.5 Million New Cosmic Entities

In an astonishing revelation, high school student Matteo Paz has taken the scientific world by storm after identifying a staggering 1.5 million unknown objects lurking in the depths of space. This feat was accomplished through the ingenious application of an artificial intelligence algorithm he developed, enabling him to sift through immense data troves and spotlight celestial treasures previously hiding in plain sight.

A Journey That Began at Caltech

Paz's remarkable journey began back in 2022 at Caltech’s Planet Finder Academy, a summer program aimed at immersing young minds in the wonders of astronomy. Captivated by the possibilities, he enrolled in a subsequent six-week mentorship program at the renowned institution, where he was paired with the esteemed Davy Kirkpatrick.

Turning a Dream into Reality

"On our very first conversation, I expressed my ambition of working on a significant paper beyond just the six weeks," Paz recounts. "Kirkpatrick didn’t dismiss my lofty goals; instead, he encouraged me to pursue them, fostering an environment ripe for growth as a young scientist."

Cracking the Cosmic Code

Faced with the challenge of processing nearly 200 terabytes of data from NASA’s NEOWISE (Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) telescope, Paz set off on an ambitious quest. For over a decade, NEOWISE has been relentlessly scanning the skies for asteroids while also capturing data on elusive cosmic phenomena like quasars and supernovae.

With a staggering 200 billion data rows to analyze, manual sifting was out of the question. Armed with a sharp mind for artificial intelligence, coding, and advanced mathematical skills, Paz devised a groundbreaking AI model to automate the search process.

Harnessing Machine Learning Magic

During those compact six weeks, he began to harness machine learning to train his AI model to identify patterns within the infrared data, honing in on faint signals that could lead to the detection of unknown cosmic objects. Kirkpatrick played a pivotal role, guiding him through the complexities of astronomical data interpretation.

Their passion project didn’t end with the program; it blossomed into an ongoing collaboration. By 2024, not only had Paz made his monumental findings, but he was also mentoring fellow high school students in the exhilarating world of AI and astronomy.

A Cosmic Catalog and Future Horizons

Today, their AI model is a powerful tool capable of extracting insights from NEOWISE's raw data, revealing 1.5 million discoveries—each a potential key to understanding the universe's vast history. Following his momentous victory at the 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search, which rewarded him with an impressive $250,000, Paz shows no signs of slowing down.

Currently, he and Kirkpatrick are pushing to publish a comprehensive catalog of their findings, while Paz has also landed his first paid position at Caltech, where he continues to refine his research and collaborates with astrophysicists to expand his AI innovations for even grander explorations of the cosmos.