Illustration of Jenny Bergner by Jessine Hein; Headshot photo by Christie Hemm KlokScientific American today announced its inaugural Young American Scientists list, recognizing 28 exceptional early-career researchers(ECRs) whose work is shaping the future of science and society.
"The Class of 2026 is the result of months of global outreach and analysis,” said David Ewalt, Editor in Chief at Scientific American.
“With this inaugural list, we wanted to highlight the extraordinary talent and promise across the U.S. and spotlight the researchers doing remarkable work today who are poised to make the world better tomorrow.
A passage in a part of The Young American Scientists' editorial project about her describes her work perfectly:[Bergner ponders] some of the biggest questions in the universe: How do planets form?
“Saying something is caused by magic is a much less interesting explanation to me,” Bergner says.
Illustration of Jenny Bergner by Jessine Hein; Headshot photo by Christie Hemm Klok
Scientific American today announced its inaugural Young American Scientists list, recognizing 28 exceptional early-career researchers(ECRs) whose work is shaping the future of science and society. Spanning disciplines from healthcare and artificial intelligence to astronomy and botany, the Class of 2026 reflects the considerable range and global reach of scientific innovation in the United States.
"The Class of 2026 is the result of months of global outreach and analysis,” said David Ewalt, Editor in Chief at Scientific American. “With this inaugural list, we wanted to highlight the extraordinary talent and promise across the U.S. and spotlight the researchers doing remarkable work today who are poised to make the world better tomorrow. Together, their work and achievements emphasize areas of scientific advancement and emerging opportunities.”
Among the list is Jennifer Bergner, assistant professor of chemistry, where the "laws of chemistry get pushed to the limits" in her astrochemistry lab. A passage in a part of The Young American Scientists' editorial project about her describes her work perfectly:
[Bergner ponders] some of the biggest questions in the universe: How do planets form? And how did life arise in the first place? To do so, she leads a team studying the exotic chemistry that happens under the crushing cold and near-perfect vacuum of interstellar space.
In 2023, her work came into public view when she and other researchers came up with a simple, scientific explanation for the strange movement of interstellar object 'Oumuamua.
“Saying something is caused by magic is a much less interesting explanation to me,” Bergner says. "The thrill of discovery," she adds, "comes from using the rules of science to explain the phenomena that we see, no matter how strange."
