The search for life beyond Earth has captured humanity’s imagination for centuries. From early philosophers speculating about “other worlds” to today’s astronomers analyzing telescope data, the quest has always carried both scientific urgency and profound human wonder. In recent decades, space missions like NASA’s Kepler and TESS have revolutionized our understanding of the cosmos, discovering thousands of exoplanets—worlds orbiting stars beyond our solar system.
But discovery is no longer the primary challenge. The universe is teeming with planets; the question now is: which ones could actually sustain life?
Through the YRI Fellowship, high school senior Ruthwik Dhama set out to tackle this problem head-on. He built METHI (Machine-Learned Exoplanetary Habitability Index), a cutting-edge AI framework designed to rank planets by their probability of supporting life. Unlike traditional indices, which rely on fixed heuristics like distance from a star or surface temperature, METHI takes a data-driven approach. It uses binary classification, clustering, and ensemble-based regression models to generate habitability scores that scale across large planetary datasets.
The results were impressive. METHI achieved an R² score of 0.903, a strong measure of predictive accuracy, and successfully highlighted the top 10 most promising candidates for habitability among known exoplanets. By bringing machine learning into the search for habitable worlds, Ruthwik’s framework represents a leap forward in the way astronomers prioritize targets for deeper study.
But he didn’t stop at publishing results. Recognizing the importance of accessibility, Ruthwik also developed a public web application that allows anyone—from professional astronomers to curious students—to input planetary names and instantly retrieve habitability scores. “I wanted to make the science approachable not just for researchers, but for students, educators, and anyone curious about space,” Ruthwik explained. This user-friendly platform ensures that cutting-edge astrophysics is no longer limited to labs and observatories but can spark curiosity in classrooms and living rooms alike.
Ruthwik’s journey in astronomy began long before METHI. His passion for the stars emerged early, leading him to collaborate with a professor at UNC Greensboro to study stellar spectral variations. Remarkably, he presented his findings at the North Carolina Astronomers’ Meeting, where he was the youngest speaker in attendance. Later, his work took him to the International Science and Technology Engineering Competition (ISTEC), where he presented his research alongside over 500 students from around the world. There, he earned the Grand Award in Natural and Humanity Sciences, a recognition that placed him among the brightest young minds in global science.
Despite the accolades, Ruthwik insists that recognition is not his true motivation. “The biggest reward for me isn’t medals or trophies—it’s when I see a kid stare into the sky in awe and wonder,” he said. For him, science is as much about inspiring curiosity as it is about advancing knowledge.
Now preparing to major in Physics and Statistics, Ruthwik intends to continue his astrophysics journey into university and beyond. He hopes to refine METHI further, integrate it with upcoming space mission datasets, and contribute to the ongoing search for Earth-like planets. As telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the planned Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope gather increasingly detailed data, tools like Ruthwik’s AI framework will be crucial for filtering through enormous datasets and identifying the worlds most worthy of closer examination.
His story embodies what makes the YRI Fellowship so impactful: equipping students not only to produce world-class research but also to inspire others to pursue science. The Fellowship provides the mentorship, accountability, and community necessary for high schoolers to step into fields that often feel inaccessible until graduate school. By treating students as real researchers, YRI unlocks projects that bridge ambition with impact.
Ruthwik’s success illustrates this formula perfectly. What started as a fascination with the night sky became a series of research collaborations, conference presentations, international recognition, and now, an AI framework that could shape the next phase of space exploration. His journey is proof that the future of astrophysics—and perhaps the discovery of extraterrestrial life—might be driven not only by established scientists but also by visionary teenagers willing to take the leap.
Learn more about how the YRI Fellowship empowers students like Ruthwik to explore the universe and pioneer the future of science at yriscience.com.