In a discovery that has surprised the global scientific community, a US high school student has identified millions of previously unseen cosmic objects using artificial intelligence and long-forgotten
NASA data, reshaping how the cosmos is explored.
The student from California, Matteo Paz, used artificial intelligence to analyse data from NASA’s decommissioned NEOWISE mission that led to the discovery of 1.5 million cosmic objects.
The scale of the findings quickly drew attention across the space research community. While the sheer number of newly identified objects was striking, experts were equally impressed by the computational approach behind the work.
Matteo please apply to work at NASA and I will personally throw in a fighter jet ride as a signing bonus
— Jared Isaacman (@rookisaacman) December 27, 2025
NASA director Jared Isaacman publicly praised the teen, offering him a job and a jet ride. Replying to a post on X, the NASA chief stated, “Matteo please apply to work at NASA and I will personally throw in a fighter jet ride as a signing bonus.”
Paz’s project began at Caltech’s Planet Finder Academy, where he worked with astrophysicist Davy Kirkpatrick. As a secondary school student from Pasadena, Paz benefited from Kirkpatrick’s mentorship, which helped shape the project’s direction.
Using a machine learning system that he designed himself, Paz analysed nearly 200 billion infrared data points from the NEOWISE archive. While traditional methods had overlooked subtle signals, the AI model detected them efficiently. Within six weeks, the system identified a wide range of celestial phenomena, including distant quasars and supernovas.
The discoveries quickly gained recognition within the scientific community. Paz’s work was published in The Astronomical Journal, and he was offered a research assistantship at Caltech. NASA’s interest in the findings has continued to grow.
The impact is already being felt in active space missions. Coordinates generated by Paz’s AI system are now guiding follow-up observations by the James Webb Space Telescope.
The project highlights a broader shift in astronomy, where AI tools and young researchers are playing an increasingly important role. Combined with strong mentorship, Paz’s work underscores how fresh perspectives and collaboration are reshaping the study of the universe.
