Scientific American Unveils Inaugural Class of Young American Scientists, Celebrating the Next Generation of Innovators

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 16, 2026--

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.

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Launched at a pivotal moment for the scientific community when ECRs face unique challenges, the initiative aims to spotlight burgeoning luminaries in American science. The selected scientists are advancing breakthroughs with real-world impact, from curing diseases to developing transformative technologies, and represent the leaders who will define the decades ahead and deliver a brighter future.

“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.”

A Rigorous, Global Selection Process

Rather than commencing with a pre-determined number of finalists, Scientific American arrived at an ultimate cohort of 28 scientists following an extensive nomination and selection process. Hundreds of notable and leading researchers and experts from around the world working in a diversity of fields participated in nominating candidates. The editorial team then reviewed the nominees’ work in depth, combining data-driven analysis with editorial judgment to identify the most compelling Young American Scientists.

The result is a cohort that reflects excellence across the scientific landscape.

The Next Generation of Visionaries

The Young American Scientists list focuses on ECRs who have not yet reached full tenure. Candidates included graduate students, academics at the assistant-professor level, and scientists working in industry or nonprofit settings provided that applicants were not yet fully established in their fields. All honorees are under the age of 40, with the youngest aged just 24 years. The Class of 2026 Young American Scientists includes:

Reflecting the Reality of American Science

The Class of 2026 mirrors the demographics and international nature of science in the United States, and underscores America’s continued role as a global magnet for scientific talent and hub of innovation. The Class of 2026 also presents a balance of fields and work environments from researchers at large multinational corporations to scientists working at smaller startups.

A Major Moment in Science

The Young American Scientists list anchors a major Scientific American print and digital package examining the state of science today. Each honoree is featured in a dedicated profile, with additional select in-depth interviews and topical content available online.

The issue also includes:

An Annual Platform for Recognition

The Young American Scientists list is envisioned as an annual issue, continuing Scientific American ’s long-standing commitment to highlighting excellence, innovation and impact in science.

“This project is about recognizing not just individual achievement, but the collective momentum of a new generation,” added Jeanna Bryner, Executive Editor at Scientific American. “These scientists represent possibility and a powerful reminder of what science can achieve.”

The Young American Scientists Class of 2026 will appear in Scientific American ’s upcoming issue and across its digital platforms, with extended profiles and exclusive content available online.

Media Assets: A composite image of the Class of 2026 and the issue cover are available, along with professional headshots and illustrations of each honoree.

About Scientific American

Founded in 1845, Scientific American is the oldest continuously published magazine in the U.S. and the leading authoritative publication for science and technology in the general media. Together with scientificamerican.com and eight local language editions around the world, it reaches more than nine million readers. Scientific American is published by Springer Nature.

Scientific American's July-August Issue Cover — The Young American Scientists 2026.

Pizza Hut, the 68-year-old chain that has long struggled with growing competition and outdated restaurants, will be sold for $2.7 billion by parent company Yum Brands.

Yum Brands said Tuesday that the private equity firm LongRange Capital will buy Pizza Hut, excluding the mainland China business, for about $1.5 billion.

In mainland China, Pizza Hut will be purchased by Yum China Holdings Inc. for approximately $1.2 billion, the company said. China is Pizza Hut's second-largest market outside the U.S., accounting for 19% of sales. Yum China Holdings Inc. spun off from Yum Brands and became an independent company in 2016.

Yum Brands, which also owns KFC and Taco Bell, began to explore its options for Pizza Hut in November. Last year, Yum Brands' global sales rose 5% but Pizza Hut's sales fell 2%.

In February, Yum Brands announced plans to close 250 U.S. Pizza Hut locations. Pizza Hut had 19,974 restaurants worldwide at the end of last year.

“Pizza Hut has long been the weak link in Yum’s portfolio,” Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, wrote Tuesday. “Despite efforts to revitalize the brand and shut underperforming locations, it has become increasingly clear that pushing the division back into growth will require a level of investment and patience that Yum is just not prepared to commit to.”

Pizza Hut was founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas, by two brothers who borrowed $600 from their mother to open the store. They chose the name because their sign only had room for eight letters.

Pizza Hut’s familiar red roof debuted in 1969 and by 1971 it was the top pizza chain in the world by sales. PepsiCo acquired Pizza Hut in 1977 but spun off its restaurant division — which became Yum Brands — in 1997.

By the 1980s, Domino's was the fastest-growing U.S. pizza company, buoyed by its promise of 30-minute delivery. As pizza carryout and delivery grew in popularity, Pizza Hut was saddled with large, dine-in restaurants. In 2020, even as pizza delivery boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Pizza Hut closed 300 U.S. restaurants.

The chain has been further pinched in recent years by the growth of DoorDash, Uber Eats and other restaurant delivery companies which marketed access to a slew of cuisines besides pizza.

U.S. pizza sales have slowed considerably since the pandemic, growing less than 1% in 2024 and falling less than 1% in 2025, according to Technomic, a restaurant consulting company. But Pizza Hut performed worse than average, with U.S. sales down 8.2% last year, Technomic said.

By selling Pizza Hut, Yum Brands can focus more on its brands with stronger sales, Yum CEO Chris Turner said.

“Under LongRange and Yum China, Pizza Hut will be well positioned for future growth with ownership that brings deep expertise in the restaurant industry," Turner said in a statement.

Connecticut-based LongRange Capital was founded in 2019 by Bob Berlin, who previously engineered a turnaround at Arby's when he led private equity investments at The Baupost Group. Berlin said Tuesday he looked forward to working with Pizza Hut's executive team and franchisees “to drive its next phase of growth.”

“Pizza Hut is a beloved global brand with a rich heritage and a loyal customer base that few brands can match,” Berlin said in a statement.

Asked Tuesday if LongRange planned to close any Pizza Hut locations, the company said it had no comment beyond Berlin's statement.

Yum Brands, based in Louisville, Kentucky, expects the sale in U.S. and China to close in the third quarter. The company's stock rose nearly 2% Tuesday.

FILE - This Dec. 15, 2016, file photo shows a Pizza Hut restaurant in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)