Twenty-six young men and 14 young women cleared the second hurdle on the track to a championship that recognizes exceptional ability in science, engineering, and math—the annual Intel Science Talent Search.
Winnowed from 1,602 entrants, the 40 finalists will travel to Washington, D.C., in March to present their research to the public and to undergo the final round of judging during the Intel Science Talent Institute. Winners will share $530,000 in scholarships. Many of the previous participants have gone on to distinguished careers in science; six have won the Nobel Prize.