Breakthrough Junior Challenge

There are a few key milestones on your journey for an opportunity to receive the prize, starting with applying for the Challenge.

Please make a careful note of each milestone and the deadline for reaching it.

Challenge

You get it. You’ve grasped an important scientific theory, concept or principle.

Now can you share your insight?

An inventive video can get across complex material that would take pages of text to communicate.

To take part in the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, create a short video (2:00 – two minutes max) to explain a big idea in one of these fields:

• Physics
• Mathematics
• Life Sciences

Your film can take any form you like: animation, talking head, documentary, dramatic reconstruction, whatever. It’s worth keeping in mind that video is a dynamic visual medium – using diagrams, simulations, physical demonstrations etc. is a lot more effective than standing in front of a blackboard talking.

The videos will be judged according to the following criteria:

• Engagement
• Illumination
• Creativity
• Difficulty

If you’re looking for guidance, you can see some of last year’s top-scoring entries here and below. But remember, to show ‘creativity’ your film should be as original as possible.

Who?

• Anyone between the ages of 13 and 18

You can take part in this year’s Challenge as long as you’re:

• 13 or older by 12:01 AM PDT (West Coast USA) on May 11, 2026
• Not older than 18 (not yet 19) as of 11:59 PM PDT (West Coast USA) on October 1, 2026

We welcome submissions in English from anyone of those ages, including homeschooled students, students with disabilities, and students from all over the world. For additional details, check out the Rules.

How?

• Sign up
• To get the ball rolling, sign up online.
• Apply (Applications will be taken starting May 11, 2026)
• To apply, fill in the forms online, answer a short questionnaire about yourself, your school and your chosen Challenge topic, and submit your completed video.

What?

Create a video (2:00 minutes max)

Step 1

Select a theory, concept, or principle in physics, life sciences, mathematics. One that’s important to understand but challenging to explain.

Step 2

Create a short video (no more than 2:00 minutes) to communicate the idea in an engaging, illuminating, and imaginative way. Be creative! Consider using visual tools in your video, such as animations, simulations, or physical demonstrations.

Step 3

Submit a YouTube video link in your application and join our Breakthrough YouTube channel, Breakthrough Facebook page, Breakthrough Instagram page, and Breakthrough TikTok page. Share your video on your own YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok pages too. Take part in the Peer-to-Peer review, where you get to view and score the submissions from five (5) other contestants.