The number of South Bay researchers, researching on all topics ranging from close-to-Earth asteroids to pollen-based drug delivery, got national honours last Wednesday. This team of scientists comprised of a record number of researchers, and all of them are high school seniors.

A few of their projects are extremely cutting-edge, such that there isn't any scientific literature for them to infer on, like for instance the work done by Roshni Bhatnagar at The Harker School.

Bhatnagar observed and looked into the link between a brain structure insula, emotion regulation and depression. According to her, the study was very explorative as it was completely a shot into the dark.

This year, Bhatnagar along with 25 of her team mates, all of them high school seniors, progressed towards the semi-finals of Intel's Science Talent Search. The winning prize was a $100,000 college scholarship, which they won. The prize regarded as equivalent to the Nobel Prize for the youngster scientists.

The students conduct research independently, whether individually or with the help of their supervisor or a science mentor.

Then they give their research reports, essay questions, transcripts and recommendation letters to a panel comprising of veteran scientists for them to review.