Meet Seth Nabat, the 18-year-old California student who built a two-network machine-learning system to track particle collisions; he won $40,000
Every year, nearly 1,900 of the nation’s most promising high school seniors submit original research to the Regeneron Science Talent Search (Regeneron STS), the oldest and most prestigious science and mathematics competition in the United States. According to the Society for Science, which runs the competition, the Regeneron STS recognises and empowers young scientists who are developing ideas that could solve society’s most urgent challenges. Started in 1942 as the Westinghouse Science Talent Search, the competition has a long history of identifying future leaders in STEM. Among the 2026 top ten winners was Seth Nabat, an 18-year-old from Winnetka, California, who earned tenth place and a $40,000 award for his innovative machine-learning project on particle collisions. Read on to know more about his invention here:A breakthrough in physicsSeth Jacob Nabat, a senior at William Howard Taft Charter High School in Woodland Hills, California, developed a machine learning program to make sense of the results of high-energy particle collisions. Physicists use computer models to study these collisions, but when programs expect symmetrical results, it saves computing time and energy while potentially doubling measurement errors. In his project, Seth designed a three-part system to avoid this confusion, as per Society for Science.The first network “knows” about symmetry and uses it to find the quickest way to approximate collision results.The second, unconstrained network catches camera and measurement errors, and the third network finds patterns in those errors. He found that, in tests, his combined model was able to navigate imperfect data without losing the efficiency advantage. His model lets researchers look directly at what “breaks” symmetry, a fundamental problem in physics, especially quantum field theory.Beyond the labSeth’s achievements extend beyond his research project. The son of Robyn Brook-Nabat and Scott Nabat, he is co-captain of his school’s varsity debate team, where he hones his skills in argumentation and public speaking. As a volunteer instructor with the UCLA Math Circle, Seth teaches classrooms of elementary and middle school students college-level mathematics and helps other instructors prepare for their classes. His commitment to education and mentorship reflects his belief in the power of knowledge to transform lives, as per the report.A fun factNot all of Seth’s adventures are academic. On a family trip, he once rode a mule for the first time, only to be bucked off when the animal got spooked by a deer carcass. It’s a reminder that even the brightest minds have moments of unexpected humour and humility.A prestigious competitionThe Regeneron Science Talent Search is unique among high school competitions. It focuses on identifying, inspiring and engaging the most promising scientists among the nation’s high school seniors. Each year, nearly 1,900 students enter the Regeneron STS, submitting original research in critically important scientific fields of study. The competition culminates in a public exhibition of projects and a formal awards ceremony, where the top ten winners are announced.Looking ahead The $40,000 award is more than just a recognition for Seth; it’s an opportunity to take his education and research a step further. His work on particle collisions could help us learn much more about the basic principles of physics and could affect areas from physics to cosmology. Seth is committed to making a difference as he continues to break new ground in the lab and the classroom.Seth’s story is an inspiration for young scientists all over the world, showing that with curiosity, creativity and hard work, you can have a major impact on the frontier of science, even as a high school student.Seth Nabat’s win at the Regeneron STS shows the impact of mentorship, community support, and the understanding that the next great discovery in science can come from anywhere, even a high school science fair.
