The age aspect is interesting. Although the age of Nobel laureates has been steadily increasing, so has the &#x27;gap&#x27; between discovery and award. [1] It&#x27;s partly due to the amount of learning needed to contribute meaningfully, so starting earlier is always better.<p>It&#x27;s not that hard to get access (perhaps not unfettered) to research labs in high school. In grade 10, I talked to a professor at UCLA and started coding physics simulations for him. Many people I know worked at research labs far before the age of 22. Zenefits CEO Parker Conrad won 3rd place at the Westinghouse Talent search for neural research at age 17. Feynman started tinkering early, and Einstein taught himself geometry at age 12.<p>If you&#x27;re curious, you can push your way in. However, this isn&#x27;t easy, and we need to make it easier for students to get involved earlier. At any rate, YCR will certainly find talent at all ages.<p>[1] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;priceonomics.com&#x2F;why-nobel-winning-scientists-are-getting-older&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;priceonomics.com&#x2F;why-nobel-winning-scientists-are-get...</a>