Breathtaking Achievement: 15-Year-Old Belgian Completes PhD, Aiming to Build “Superhuman”

At an age when most children are busy with school and play, 15-year-old Laurent Simons has already made history by completing his PhD in Quantum Physics from Antwerp University. He is now among the youngest individuals in the world to earn a doctoral degree, having finished school at just 8 years old.

From School Prodigy to Quantum Physicist
Laurent’s academic journey is extraordinary. After completing school at 8, he earned a degree in Physics by the age of 12. By 15, he had successfully defended his PhD thesis titled “Bose polarons in superfluids and supersolids”, which studied the behavior of impurities in Bose-Einstein condensates at near-zero temperatures—a phenomenon that reveals unique quantum behaviors. Laurent also gained practical experience through an internship at the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics, strengthening his research credentials.

A Second PhD and Ambitious Goals
Remarkably, Laurent is not stopping here. He has already enrolled for a second PhD, this time focusing on Medical Sciences and Artificial Intelligence (AI). His goal is to connect quantum systems with biological and computational health sciences, exploring new frontiers in science and technology.

Dreaming of Creating “Superhumans”
When asked about his future ambitions in a TV interview, Laurent gave a stunning response:
“Next, I will work on my goal of creating superhumans.”
This is consistent with his early vision; at just 11, he had expressed his desire to overcome aging. While the practical details of this ambitious project remain unclear, it likely involves AI-driven diagnostics, regenerative medicine, and lifespan modeling.

A Unique Blend of Quantum Physics and Biomedical Science
Laurent’s journey is exceptional not only because of his age but also due to the rare academic transition he is undertaking. Moving from quantum physics to applied biomedical sciences at the doctoral level is virtually unprecedented. So far, there is no public evidence that his work involves human testing beyond standard academic research ethics, and his institutions have expressed full confidence in his research direction.

Laurent Simons’ story is a remarkable example of human potential and curiosity, blending quantum mechanics, AI, and biomedical science at an age when most teenagers are still exploring basic subjects. The world will be watching closely as he pushes the boundaries of science and human capability.