Photo credit: University of Idaho
In 2025, Matthew Hedman, assistant professor at the University of Idaho, has done
quite a bit more than just make space science look cool to his students. He helped decode Saturn’s rings so we can better understand the planet’s interior, which helps us model climate patterns on Earth. That work used kronoseismology (yeah, I had to look it up, too) to study waves in Saturn’s rings like a giant cosmic ultrasound.
He and his students also participated in a research project, led by the Southwest Research Institute, that used the James Webb Space Telescope to discover a new, six-mile-wide moon orbiting Uranus.
But Hedman doesn’t just hide in the lab. He steps out to directly help and mentor students, not just at UofI but several other school districts in Idaho, too. If someone someday puts a foot onto Mars’ surface, it’s likely that person will have been mentored by Hedman. So it’s no surprise that in addition to making the Worthy 100 he was awarded the DPS Alexander Prize last year for his contributions to planetary science.
