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In lecture halls and laboratories across Busan, some of Asia’s brightest teenage minds are wrestling with problems that have no easy answers — only equations, experiments and pressure. The 2026 Asian Physics Olympiad opened in Busan Sunday, bringing together student competitors and delegation members from 27 countries for a nine-day contest of theoretical and experimental physics. It is the first time Korea is hosting the prestigious competition, which is held annually to identify emerging scientists and promote academic exchange across Asia. The event runs from Saturday through May 25, beginning with arrivals on Saturday and an opening ceremony on Sunday, and culminating in an awards ceremony on May 24. Organizers said participants will undergo rigorous theoretical and laboratory examinations designed to test advanced problem-solving skills in physics, with scores determining individual rankings among the region’s top young scientists. The Olympiad is hosted by the Korean Physical Society and organized by the 2026 Asian Physics Olympiad Organizing Committee, with support from the M