American prodigy Elliott Tanner amazed the world by earning a college degree at just 11 years old and completing a four-year bachelor's degree in Physics at 13. Now 18, he is in the final stages of his PhD research, focusing on the mystery of dark matter.
Elliott enrolled in college at the age of 9. Two years later, he graduated from Normandale Community College with an Associate of Science degree in Mathematics. He then joined the University of Minnesota, where he earned his bachelor's degree in Physics at 13, along with a minor in Mathematics.
He later entered the university's PhD program and, by age 15, had completed his master's degree and advanced to PhD candidacy. His research is in experimental particle physics, with dark matter as one of his primary areas of study.
His remarkable abilities appeared much earlier in life. Elliott taught himself to read at just 18 months, could do basic arithmetic by age 3, and was reading the Harry Potter series by the time he was 5. At age 3, he was already studying at a fourth-grade level.
Although he initially attended a traditional school, his parents soon realized it could not match his learning pace and switched him to homeschooling, allowing him to progress according to his abilities.
Beyond academics, Elliott was encouraged to explore his interests through visits to NASA's Kennedy Space Center, coding, mathematics, and hands-on learning with experts. His parents say they never pressured him to accelerate his education—they simply supported his curiosity while ensuring he enjoyed a normal childhood filled with friends and play.
