Story sounds like it is made for tv, in some ways it is. he is very, very smart, possibly smarter than sheldon. reporter: iain armitage plays sheldon cooper. but when the cameras aren t rolling, he calls elliot, a regenius, his friend, a bond formed when came to visit the set and stayed strong since. ian is a great friend. the thing i love about the young sheldon is it really makes being a nerd cool. reporter: when elliot is done studying at the u, he dreams of once again returning, again as a professor to share his passion with others. i feel like i would love to be able spread some of this joy for physics and enthusiasm around. reporter: c caroline cummings, cbs news. being a nerd is definitely cool. way to go, elliot. elliot next on
By caroline cummings of wcco. reporter: elliot tanner is just like any other 13-year-old. i like to play dungeon and dragons with friends. reporter: except for the fact he can solve this? i have an incredible passion for physics. it has been one of my favorite things to do. reporter: he is pursuing that passion at the university of minnesota, where he is studying for a bachelor s degree. keeping a 3.78 g.p.a. and doing undergraduate research. a neutrino is a fast-moving particle that will go through about a light year and hardly interact with it. reporter: wow! what we re trying to do is we re trying to detect those. reporter: when elliot graduates this week, he won t be going far. he will be back on campus in the fall for a ph.d. if elliot tanner s