{
  "id": 7683383,
  "title": "Bellevue teen builds AI to predict air turbulence, wins $100K",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/bellevue-teen-builds-ai-to-predict-air-turbulence-wins-100k",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-15T16:56:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/meet-aditya-sengupta-the-18-year-old-bellevue-student-who-built-an-ai-system-to-better-predict-dangerous-clear-air-turbulence-his-research-won-100000/articleshow/134269150.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Bellevue, Washington, an 18-year-old student named Aditya Sengupta has developed an artificial intelligence system called ForeCAT to predict clear-air turbulence, earning a $100,000 scholarship from the Davidson Institute. ForeCAT, which combines machine learning with atmospheric physics, aims to prevent the risks associated with unexpected turbulence during commercial flights. Clear-air turbulence occurs without visible indicators and can cause passenger injuries and operational disruptions, costing airlines an estimated $500 million annually. Sengupta's ForeCAT system uses spatiotemporal weather data and fluid dynamics equations to forecast the formation and severity of invisible air currents. In tests, ForeCAT achieved a 95% accuracy rate, surpassing traditional methods like the Graphical Turbulence Guidance algorithm. The Davidson Institute recognized Sengupta as a 2026 Davidson Fellow Laureate for his independent research. Sengupta plans to pursue a university degree in computing and natural sciences, focusing on developing engineering applications grounded in physics and computer science.",
  "summary": "An impressive feat for an 18-year-old student, ForeCAT is a groundbreaking AI model he created to predict hazardous clear-air turbulence. Garnering a prestigious scholarship from the Davidson Institute, this innovative system merges atmospheric physics with computational power, achieving remarkable accuracy that surpasses conventional turbulence forecasting techniques. By improving flight safety…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}