Kids can be a lot smarter than you might think; in fact, some kids are beyond smart - they're geniuses. It's a pretty rare event, but throughout history, there have been multiple child prodigies that continue to blow our minds with their amazing accomplishments and feats. Today, we're going to highlight 20 of them, opening your eyes to what some kids were able to achieve at such young ages.
1. Kim Ung-Yong
As a child, Kim Ung-Yong shocked everyone around the world by gaining the Guinness World Record for the highest recorded IQ above 210. By age 4, he was already solving complex calculus problems, and by 5, he could speak 5 different languages (Korean, English, French, German, and Japanese). But one of his most impressive feats was getting invited by NASA to study in the United States and becoming a researcher at this agency at the mere age of 8.
Anonymous on Wikimedia Commons
2. William James Sidis
Entering Harvard at the young age of 11, William James Sidis is one of the youngest people to ever do so. With an estimated IQ somewhere between 250 and 300, he's best known for his extraordinary mathematical abilities and linguistic skills, said to be able to speak 25 different languages and dialects completely fluently.
Unknown author on Wikimedia Commons
3. Akrit Jaswal
When he was just 7 years old, Akrit Jaswal became the youngest person to ever perform surgery. He conducted a successful operation on an 8 year old girl's burnt fingers, establishing his title as the youngest surgeon around the world. Known as a medical genius in India, Akrit is deeply respected for his talent, skill, and exceptionally remarkable IQ.
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unspl
4. Gregory Smith
By the age of 14, Gregory Smith had been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in advocating for children’s rights through his foundation, International Youth Advocates. He entered college at the age of 10 and has been recognized for his efforts in promoting peace and education globally.
ProtoplasmaKid on Wikimedia Commons
5. Priyanshi Somani
Also known as the world's youngest "human calculator," Priyanshi Somani shocked the world with her mindboggling math skills. Not only did she win the Mental Calculation World Cup in 2010 with a shocking 100% accuracy rate in all categories including addition, multiplication, and square roots, she was the youngest participant to ever do it at the age of 11.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
6. Alia Sabur
Holding the record for being the world's youngest professor, Alia Sabur was appointed as a full-time faculty member at Konkuk University in Seoul, South Korea when she was just 18. Did we mention she went to University when she was just 10 years old? Today, she continues to make amazing research contributions in the fields of materials science and engineering.
7. Sho Yano
With an estimated IQ over 200 and reading at the age of 2, writing by 3, and playing piano by 4, Sho Yano is a classified child prodigy and genius. After starting university at the young age of 9, he went on to become the youngest person to receive an M.D. from the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago at 21.
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
8. Taylor Wilson
A nuclear physicist by 14? That's right, Taylor Wilson turned heads by building a functional nuclear fusion reactor when he was just 14 years old, becoming the youngest person to achieve this accomplishment. Since then, he has continued to work on nuclear fusion and is developing other projects aimed at solving global energy problems.
Halifax International Security Forum on Wikimedia Commons
9. Mozart
This renowned composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, started composing music at the young age of 5. A serious musical prodigy, he's considered one of the greatest musicians of all time, composing over 600 works in his lifetime and profoundly influencing Western music.
Johann Nepomuk della Croce on Wikimedia Commons
10. Blaise Pascal
Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician, physicist, and inventor, was a definite child prodigy. At 16, he wrote a significant treatise on projective geometry, and by 19, he had invented the Pascaline, an early mechanical calculator, contributing greatly to the fields of mathematics and science.
11. Srinivasa Ramanujan
With no formal training in pure mathematics, Srinivasa Ramanujan has made substantial contributions to mathematical analysis, number theory, infinite series, and continued fractions. Named a child prodigy by the time he was 11, he mastered advanced trigonometry by 13 and even discovered new theories on his own.
Konrad Jacobs on Wikimedia Commons
12. Elaina Smith
Here's an adorable one - at just 7 years old, Elaina Smith became the youngest radio host in Britain. She offered relationship advice to her listeners, enticing people with her unique and "wise beyond her years" advice that showcased an astonishing level of empathy and understanding for her age. Emotional intelligence is an amazing accomplishment too!
Photo by John Hult on Unsplash
13. Joey Hudy
Impressing President Obama and people all across the country at 14 years of age with his "Extreme Marshmallow Cannon" at the 2012 White House Science Fair, Joey Hudy is truly amazing. His exceptional brain and skills in engineering and science led him to an internship at Intel (the youngest intern there ever!) and plenty of invitations to science and engineering fairs around the world.
Photo by Ousa Chea on Unsplash
14. Anne Frank
Although she wasn't a genius in the traditional sense, you can't deny that Anne Frank wrote one of the most influential books in the entire world. "The Diary of A Young Girl," provided insightful observations and mature reflections during a horrifying time, and it's mind-blowing to think that she wrote that between the ages of 13-15.
Unknown photographer on Wikimedia Commons
15. Britney Exline
At 15, Britney Exline became the youngest African-American to be accepted into an Ivy League school in the United States. Skipping three grades as a child and even teaching herself how to read at 2, she clearly went on to accomplish many great feats. In 2011, she graduated at just 19 years of age and has been involved in various volunteer efforts and advocacy for underprivileged kids.
Photo by Emmanuel Ikwuegbu on Unsplash
16. Saul Aaron Kripke
Considered one of the most important philosophers in the 20th century, Saul Aaron Kripke made significant contributions at a very young age. Labelled a prodigy and genius as a child, Saul taught himself Ancient Hebrew when he was just 6, read all of Shakespeare's works by the time he was 9, and mastered complex math theories and the works of Descartes before he even graduated elementary school. By his teens, his work on modal logic led to a revolution in philosophical thought.
David Calhoun on Wikimedia Commons
17. Magnus Carlsen
Magnus Carlsen became a chess grandmaster at the age of 13, making him one of the youngest grandmasters in history. Known for his prodigious memory and intuitive grasp of chess, he has dominated the world chess championship scene for years (he holds the record for the longest unbeaten streak played at an elite level!).
Óscar Javier García Baudet on Wikimedia Commons
18. Terence Tao
Terence Tao is an Australian mathematician who participated in international math competitions by the age of 10, receiving his bachelor's and master's degrees when he was just 16. His work across several mathematical areas has earned him the Fields Medal, often considered the "Nobel Prize of Mathematics." He was one of the youngest recipients to ever win!
either Billy or Grace Tao on Wikimedia Commons
19. Michael Kearney
Perhaps also known for being a game show winner, Michael Kearney was an amazing child prodigy. Earning his first bachelor's degree at the age of 10, he set the world record as the youngest university graduate. He continued to break records by earning a master's degree at 14, showcasing his exceptional intelligence and dedication to learning.
Photo by Lewis Keegan on Unsplash
20. Pablo Picasso
Known for being one of the most influential artists in the 20th century, did you know Pablo Picasso was also a child prodigy? Demonstrating extraordinary artistic talent at a young age, he was already painting in a realistic manner throughout his childhood and adolescence. In fact, when he was 8, he completed his first painting, the "El Picador," showcasing his immense skill which eventually led to his life of great artistic work.
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