Arizona eighth-grader’s drone study finds rural areas have more ground-level CO2

Luca McGillPhoto: Society for Science When 13-year-old Luca McGill set out to measure carbon dioxide in Arizona, he assumed the busiest city streets would naturally produce the highest levels. However, his custom drone experiments revealed a completely different reality. As documented by the Society for Science, which highlights young researchers through its Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, Luca’s breakthrough project earned him a spot as a 2025 finalist. By flying sensor equipment 120 meters into the air, he discovered that rural landscapes often contained higher ground-level carbon dioxide concentrations than nearby urban areas. This surprising finding directly challenged long-held assumptions about local air pollution, proving that greenhouse gas behaviour is far more nuanced than simple city traffic patterns. Luca’s work offers fresh clarity on environmental science while proving that meaningful scientific contributions can come from anywhere.Rethinking how greenhouse gases spreadMost people tie high carbon dioxide readings straight to exhaust pipes, factories, and concrete urban centers. When Luca began analyzing his flight data, he fully expected to see m...