Young Person Turns 18 Using AI With NASA Data, Discovering 1.5 Million Space Objects, Cataloging Over 2 Million Celestial Bodies, and Winning $250,000 Prize

Written by Romário Pereira de Carvalho

Published on 13/02/2026 at 08:30

Updated on 13/02/2026 at 08:31

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Student from Planet Finder Academy Analyzes 200 Terabytes from the NEOWISE Telescope, Catalogs More Than 2 Million Celestial Bodies and Creates Promising Technology for Various Scientific Areas of Advanced Research

Matteo Paz, an 18-year-old American, gained worldwide attention by identifying 1.5 million new space objects. To achieve this, he turned to artificial intelligence and analyzed a massive dataset provided by NASA. The result drew attention not only for the impressive number of discoveries but also for the speed with which the project was developed.

Million-Dollar Award and Scientific Recognition

The performance earned the student a prize of 250 thousand dollars, approximately R$ 1.4 million, in a prestigious scientific competition.

In addition to the financial reward, the work secured publication in a respected scientific journal. The study is described as revolutionary for mapping phenomena that were previously considered invisible to astronomers.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Six Weeks, 200 Terabytes and a Colossal Challenge for the Youngster

As a member of the Planet Finder Academy at the California Institute of Technology, Matteo worked with 200 terabytes of data from NASA’s NEOWISE telescope.

This material includes infrared observations accumulated since 2009. The database contained 200 billion lines of records, a volume that initially seemed intimidating.

Even so, in just six weeks, he developed a machine learning system capable of detecting subtle signals hidden within the data.

More Than 2 Million Celestial Bodies Cataloged

With the algorithm he created, Matteo cataloged more than 2 million celestial bodies. Among them, about 1.5 million were completely unknown.

The technology analyzes variations in infrared radiation and classifies different phenomena, such as black holes, binary star systems, quasars, and supernovae in distant regions.

Applications of the Youngster That Can Go Beyond Astronomy

According to mentor Davy Kirkpatrick, no one had attempted to utilize the entire NEOWISE dataset before. Although the current focus is on space, the system has potential in other areas.

The tool could, in the future, be adapted for finance, neuroscience, and environmental monitoring.

Currently, Matteo works as a paid research assistant and continues to refine his technology, expanding the possibilities opened by his work.

With information from NSC Total.

Young Person Turns 18 Using AI With NASA Data, Discovering 1.5 Million Space Objects, Cataloging Over 2 Million Celestial Bodies, and Winning $250,000 Prize

Student from Planet Finder Academy Analyzes 200 Terabytes from the NEOWISE Telescope, Catalogs More Than 2 Million Celestial Bodies and Creates Promising Technology for Various Scientific Areas of Advanced Research

Million-Dollar Award and Scientific Recognition

Six Weeks, 200 Terabytes and a Colossal Challenge for the Youngster

More Than 2 Million Celestial Bodies Cataloged

Applications of the Youngster That Can Go Beyond Astronomy

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Young Person Turns 18 Using AI With NASA Data, Discovering 1.5 Million Space Objects, Cataloging Over 2 Million Celestial Bodies, and Winning $250,000 Prize

Student from Planet Finder Academy Analyzes 200 Terabytes from the NEOWISE Telescope, Catalogs More Than 2 Million Celestial Bodies and Creates Promising Technology for Various Scientific Areas of Advanced Research

Million-Dollar Award and Scientific Recognition

Six Weeks, 200 Terabytes and a Colossal Challenge for the Youngster

More Than 2 Million Celestial Bodies Cataloged

Applications of the Youngster That Can Go Beyond Astronomy

With billions in loans, China is rebuilding Nigeria’s railway network from scratch, abandoning the British colonial tracks that have turned to scrap and creating a corridor of over 1,300 km to take the load off the roads of Africa’s largest economy.

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