Last weekend in Washington, D.C., 30 young researchers from across the nation were preparing for a competition of their own. In a sense, all were winners already. After all, each had to beat out hundreds of others for the chance to face off in team play. But only one competitor—Alaina Gassler, 14—would take home the top prize: an educational award worth $25,000. Her award was one of over a dozen announced at an evening party on Octo-ber 29.