Project Title: The VarWISE All-Sky Infrared Variability Survey — Classification of 1.9 Million Astronomical Objects Into 10 Classes

Matteo Paz, 18, of Pasadena, Calif., designed machine-learning algorithms to efficiently comb through 200 billion entries of raw NEOWISE infrared full-sky data. By analyzing tiny changes in infrared radiation, the AI sorted the objects into 10 classes. He found 1.5 million new potential objects.

• Photos of Matteo
• Winner Video
• Bio & Project page
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Project Title: Musculoskeletal Effects of Tirasemtiv and Urtica dioica on Dstac Gene Knockdown in Drosophila melanogaster: Applications Toward STAC3 Disorder (Native American Myopathy)

Ava Grace Cummings, 18, of Smithfield, N.C., created a fruit fly model of STAC3 disorder, or Native American myopathy (a muscle disease). She found that the common nettle herb, alone or combined with the experimental drug Tirasemtiv, improved movement in both adult flies and larvae

• Photos of Ava
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Project Title: Tetrahedron-Intersecting Families of 3-uniform Hypergraphs

Owen Jianwen Zhang, 18, of Bellevue, Wash., solved a long-standing math problem about objects called 3-uniform hypergraphs. He proved a maximum value for how many 3-uniform hypergraphs can have similar structures but differing connections. Owen’s results have applications in computer science.

• Photos of Owen
• Winner Video
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Project Title: Novel Utilizing Microbiome Transplants To Improve Landscape-Scale Mosquito Suppression

Logan Lee, 18, of Honolulu, Hawaii, helped sterile male mosquitoes survive in the wild. These males are important in mosquito control. Logan improved their survival by giving them a transplant of wild mosquito bacteria. His transplant helped the sterile mosquitoes grow faster and survive better in the wild.

• Photos of Logan
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Project Title: The Differential Effects of Strict Voter Identification Laws on Election Type and Adoption Timing

Rivka Lipkovitz, 18, of San Francisco, Calif., used statistical modeling to study U.S. voter ID laws. She found that presidential election turnout dropped by 2.4% in states that passed strict laws after 2008. Turnout for midterm elections increased. Knowing how laws affect turnout can help shape future policies.

• Photos and B-Roll of Rivka
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Project Title: A Bayesian Exploration Into More Flexible trans-Methylation Quantitative Trait Locus Mapping

Melody Heeju Hong, 17, of Wantagh, N.Y., developed a powerful, flexible statistical model for mapping sites called trans-methylation quantitative trait loci (trans-mQTL) within the human genome. These sites are key to understanding the interplay between genes and environment in disease and aging.

• Photos and B-Roll of Melody
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Project Title: Taming the Oblique Wing: Improving Fuel Efficiency by Developing and Flight Testing an Oblique Wing Aircraft Utilizing a Novel Control Method

Kevin Shen, 18, of Olympia, Wash., built a custom flight computer to control a 3D-printed airplane with oblique wings. These aircraft can be more fuel-efficient but are hard to control. His oblique-wing aircraft and flight computer improved flight efficiency by 9.2%.

• Photos and B-Roll of Kevin
• Bio & Project page

Project Title: A New Particle Pusher With Hadronic Interactions for Modeling Multimessenger Emission From Compact Objects

Minghao Zou, 18, of Santa Clara, Calif., simulated protons to probe environments that produce subatomic particles called neutrinos. He created an algorithm mimicking extreme astrophysical conditions, such as electromagnetic and gravitational forces and interactions with nearby particles. He verified it using known cases of particle motion

• Photos and B-Roll of Minghao
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Project Title: Development of a Finite-Nuclear Model Based on Comprehensive Electron Scattering Data With the Use of Numeric Atom-Centered Orbitals

Thanush Patlolla, 17, of Cary, N.C., approximated the density of electrons using a finite nuclear model. Using a mathematical strategy called a density function, he created a model to map electrons in a nuclear simulation. The map increased the accuracy of energy distribution predictions by 0.6%

• Photos and B-Rollof Thanush
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Project Title: Biofilm Composition in Clinical Isolates of Fungal Fusarium and Development of a Multi-Targeted Antifungal Treatment To Inhibit Proliferation

Ray Zhang, 17, of Chantilly, Va., studied how to better treat drug-resistant Fusarium fungal infections. Ray studied how the fungus builds sticky communities of cells that resist drug treatment. He also found that using a combination of drugs better controlled the fungus

• Photos and B-Roll of Ray
• Bio & Project page

Project Title: From Walking to Tunneling: An Investigation of Generalized Pilot-Wave Dynamics

• Seaborg Speech
• Photos of Akilan
• Bio & Project page