Latest news with #APCalculusBC
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
US high school student's AI identifies 1.5 million previously unknown space objects
A high school student from the US has discovered a whopping 1.5 million cosmic objects in space, which were previously unknown, using AI. Matteo (Matthew) Paz developed a new AI algorithm identify the objects while undertaking a research project as part of the Planet Finder Academy outreach program offered at California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Paz's article in The Astronomical Journal outlines the AI algorithm he developed, which can be used by other researchers. His interest in astronomy began in grade school, inspired by public stargazing lectures his mother took him to at Caltech. In the summer of 2022, Paz joined the Planet Finder Academy led by professor of astronomy Andrew Howard, where he studied astronomy and computer science. During the program, he was mentored by Caltech's Infrared Processing and Analysis Center senior scientist Davy Kirkpatrick, whose guidance helped Paz take on an ambitious research project that ultimately led to a published paper. Kirkpatrick, who grew up in a farming town in Tennessee, was inspired to pursue astronomy thanks to a supportive high school science teacher who encouraged his potential and helped him plan for college. The scientist was motivated to offer the same kind of mentorship that had once shaped his own path, helping young researchers realize their potential. Kirkpatrick also saw an opportunity to extract deeper insights from Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE), the retired infrared telescope that spent over a decade scanning the sky for asteroids and other near-Earth objects. Beyond tracking asteroids, NASA's NEOWISE telescope also recorded heat signals from distant cosmic objects that brightened, dimmed, or pulsed—phenomena known as variables, including quasars, exploding stars, and eclipsing binaries. Much of this data remained untapped. By identifying these objects, researchers could build a catalog that sheds light on how such celestial phenomena change over time. With Paz on board, the approach quickly shifted. Instead of combing through the data manually, Paz applied his background in AI—shaped by an elective combining coding, theoretical computer science, and formal math—to Kirkpatrick's study. Trained through Pasadena Unified's Math Academy, where students reach AP Calculus BC by eighth grade, Paz had the skills to turn NEOWISE's massive dataset into a training ground for machine learning. Determined to tackle the challenge at hand, Paz developed a machine-learning technique to analyze the entire NEOWISE dataset and flag potential variable objects. In just six weeks, he drafted an AI model that showed promise. Along the way, he consulted with Kirkpatrick to gain insights into the relevant astronomy and astrophysics. Last year, Paz and Kirkpatrick reunited to continue their research. With Paz now mentoring other high school students, the young researcher has refined the AI model to process the raw NEOWISE data and analyze the results. The model, trained to detect subtle variations in the telescope's infrared measurements, identified and classified 1.5 million potential new objects. In 2025, Paz and Kirkpatrick plan to publish a comprehensive catalog of objects that showed significant brightness changes in the NEOWISE data. According to Paz, the model he developed can be applied to time-domain studies in astronomy and any field involving temporal data. "I could see some relevance to (stock market) chart analysis, where the information similarly comes in a time series and periodic components can be critical. You could also study atmospheric effects such as pollution, where the periodic seasons and day-night cycles play huge roles,' Paz, now an employee at Caltech, added.
Express Tribune
09-04-2025
- Science
- Express Tribune
At just 13, this Mathematics prodigy is teaching calculus at New York University
Suborno Isaac Bari is not your average college freshman — because he's not even a teenager yet. At just 13 years old, Suborno is already teaching calculus at New York University (NYU), marking one of the most extraordinary academic journeys seen in recent memory. Hailed as a child prodigy by teachers and classmates alike, Suborno's path has been anything but typical. By the age of 2, he had mastered the periodic table. At 3, he was already solving advanced math, physics, and chemistry problems with ease. By age 7, he was giving university-level lectures. And by 11, he had applied to colleges, submitting three essays before he even celebrated his 12th birthday. Suborno's talent is not only raw but also officially recognized: in 2020, he received a letter of appreciation from former U.S. President Barack Obama for his extraordinary intellect and contributions to education. In an incredible academic sprint, Suborno graduated from Malverne High School on Long Island in just two years, making him the youngest graduate in the school's history. He finished with a GPA of 98 out of 100 and breezed through courses like AP Calculus BC, where he scored the top grade. Suborno was even taking high school morning classes while still in the fourth grade. Born to Bangladeshi immigrant parents, Rashidul Bari and Shaheda Bari, Suborno's story is also a testament to the power of family support and the opportunities afforded by dedication and perseverance. His parents were the first to recognize his extraordinary potential, and they nurtured it every step of the way. Now at NYU, Suborno calls the campus a place of "daily discourse" — the perfect environment for a mind that views mathematics as a source of pure joy. 'I do mathematics for fun,' he says, dreaming of a future where he not only advances scientific knowledge but also makes it more accessible to others, especially in physics. While many college students are still figuring out their path, Suborno already has his sights set on his next goal: becoming Professor Suborno Bari. His story is more than just about prodigious talent — it's about possibility. It's an inspiration to young people around the world, showing that with passion, support, and opportunity, extraordinary dreams are within reach.
