These questions inspired science champs. How do you match up?

Top science fair projects often turn to concepts learned in science class — or from observing nature

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Paige Brown, pictured, used knowledge from her science class and concern for her local streams to develop her award-winning science fair project.

P. BROWN

Prize-winning science projects can seem pretty advanced. The teens behind them might work with expensive lab equipment or satellites. But the inspiration for their research may not reflect bursts of genius. Sometimes, the first germ of an idea emerged in science class.

Maybe you’ve already learned some intriguing nugget that could propel you to your own next big science project. Take our quiz and find out!

Along the way, check out some past projects from the Regeneron Science Talent Search. This yearly competition by Society for Science & the Public is now sponsored by Regeneron — a company that develops and produces medicines for diseases such as asthma and cancer. Every year, the program brings 40 top high school scientists to Washington, D.C. They not only show off their research projects to the public, but also compete for more than $2 million in prizes. (Society for Science & the Public also publishes Science News for Students and this blog.)

CLICK HERE to take the quiz! 

Has something you’ve learned in science class made you think? Check out other stories about teens who saw problems, and came up with scientific ways to solve them. Your next science project might not be far away after all.

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Bethany Brookshire was a longtime staff writer at Science News Explores and is the author of the book Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains. She has a Ph.D. in physiology and pharmacology and likes to write about neuroscience, biology, climate and more. She thinks Porgs are an invasive species.