At just 18 years old, Matteo Paz has taken the astronomy world by storm after using artificial intelligence to discover more than 1.5 million previously unknown space objects. With guidance from Caltech and access to NASA’s NEOWISE data, he built a machine learning algorithm that scoured the cosmos and revealed a treasure trove of celestial bodies. His work led to the creation of VarWISE, a new catalog that’s already being used by astronomers to study stars, galaxies, and other distant wonders. What started as a personal project during the pandemic has now turned into a breakthrough with global impact.
Matteo’s discoveries include a wide array of mysterious space objects, from brown dwarfs to variable stars—some potentially never seen before. Experts say his work rivals that of graduate-level researchers and could influence the way we explore deep space moving forward. As for what’s next, Matteo is planning to continue his studies at top universities and contribute to upcoming space missions. He’s already proven that with curiosity, technology, and a little mentorship, even a high schooler can help chart the universe.