by Peter Stemmler: Photo by Peter Stemmler

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People don't usually become scientists expecting fame, glory or to have a line of sneakers named after them. But we at Popular Science believe that scientists are the true celebrities of our time. Their contributions enhance our lives and stretch our imaginations. For the fourth year running, we conducted a rigorous search to identify some of the most dynamic, promising young researchers at institutions around North America.

We sought nominations from university department heads, the organizations that award prizes for scientific merit, and the editors of prestigious journals. We were looking for people who are just starting to get noticed for work that is pushing their fields in new directions. This year's crop of Brilliant 10 winners are investigating such matters as the nature of black holes, the mechanisms that enable human cells to sense their surroundings, and the creatures that inhabit deep-sea volcanoes-oh yes, and the bizarre mating rituals of venomous spiders. We chose them based on their stellar credentials. When we met them, we weren't disappointed. You won't be either.