A Remarkable Discovery from a Young Mind

In a stunning breakthrough that has left the scientific community buzzing, high school student Matteo Paz has unveiled a staggering 1.5 million previously hidden celestial objects. Using a groundbreaking artificial intelligence algorithm, Paz has revolutionized the way we sift through vast space data, uncovering countless cosmic treasures lurking in the shadows.

From Passion to Prestigious Recognition

His incredible achievement not only wowed scientists but also earned him the prestigious title of top winner at the 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search, along with a hefty $250,000 prize aimed at rewarding America's most promising young scientists.

The Catalyst for Change: Caltech's Planet Finder Academy

Paz's journey began in 2022 at Caltech's Planet Finder Academy, an immersive summer program designed to ignite a passion for astronomy among high school students. It was there that he first discovered his fascination for space science. The following summer, he took a bold step by enrolling in a six-week program that paired him with expert mentors, including renowned astronomer Davy Kirkpatrick.

A Challenge Like No Other

Eager to explore uncharted territory, Paz set himself a monumental challenge: to make sense of nearly 200 terabytes of space data collected by NASA's NEOWISE (Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) telescope. For over a decade, NEOWISE has tirelessly scanned the skies, capturing invaluable data on various cosmic anomalies, but the overwhelming volume made manual analysis a colossal task.

Harnessing the Power of AI

The sheer scale of nearly 200 billion data rows ruled out traditional methods for Paz. Instead, he utilized his passion for AI, coding, and computer science combined with his substantial mathematical prowess—having studied advanced math for years—to engineer an AI model capable of deep-diving into this astronomical data.

A Collaborative Journey

Working under the guidance of Kirkpatrick, Paz harnessed machine learning techniques to develop an AI model that identified intricate patterns within the infrared data—detecting subtle signals that hinted at the existence of new cosmic objects. Their collaboration didn’t stop at the program’s end; they continued refining their project until it culminated in this remarkable discovery pile.

Transforming Data into Knowledge

By 2024, Paz was not just making discoveries but also mentoring fellow high school students in this exciting field. Together, they produced over 1.5 million newly cataloged objects—each one a potential key to unlocking the mysteries of our universe.

What's Next for Matteo Paz?

Since claiming the spotlight at the 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search, Paz shows no signs of slowing down. With plans to publish the complete catalog of his groundbreaking findings this year, he has also secured a position at Caltech, where he's continuing his research and collaborating with astrophysicists to expand his innovative AI system for even larger-scale projects. Stay tuned—this is just the beginning for this young astronomical trailblazer!