No Degree, No Lab, No Borders: An Independent Researcher's Journey From Yemen to Global Science

I grew up in Yemen with a dream to study space, but my country had no astronomy programs, no universities for astrophysics, and soon, no stable peace. This Perspective is a personal and systemic account of how I pursued planetary science from a conflict zone—with no smartphone, no home internet, no supervisor, and no institutional backing. I describe how I utilized auto‐didactic methodologies to master English, accessed global literature, and constructed theoretical frameworks that eventually earned recognition from major scientific societies. I conclude with concrete recommendations for how the global community can discover and support hidden scientific talent in marginalized places, while calling for peace and an end to the war waged by armed militias on Yemen and its education system.