20 Young Scientists to Watch

Some of them disassembled cars and televisions when they were children. Others chased grasshoppers or grew orchids. One studied molds from her mom's leftover coffee. Each grew up to be recognized as an intellectual wunderkind early on. The average age of these accomplished scientists is only 33, which is more like 18 for a baseball player or 25 for a business CEO. Far more than CEOs and sports stars, each of these individuals will likely change our fundamental understanding of the world and our place in it. Whether it's physicist Hideo Mabuchi's discoveries about the interface between quantum mechanics and everyday life or conservation biologist Gretchen Daily's rigorous assessments of ecosystems and economics, these young scientists probing the frontiers of knowledge have already shown the promise— or the work— that makes senior scientists applaud in awe. Discover surveyed almost 1,000 researchers to find these scientists, asking for nominations of persons ...