OK, let me clarify - it's difficult to do intense basic science research properly without the appropriate facilities, and someone to teach you how. Specifically for Intel and Seimen's, the top prizes usually go to students with mentors.
The kids who won the top prize ($50,000) a few years ago in our area got a big write-up in the paper. Their high school has contacts at the medical school and the school found their mentor for them. The kids did a lot of work, and when they went into competition, they didn't have the PI of the lab with them - they had to answer questions on their own - but they had very polished work that was professionally sponsored. They worked every day over a summer, multiple hours, in the lab with the PI and graduate student.That is a huge advantage specifically in these two competitions.
At one time in my life, I was required to do research. I was able to publish a study at the end of my allotted time, and most of my colleagues didn't publish. The major difference was my mentor, who immediately introduced me to the right literature to review so I wasn't lost in a sea of primary sources. It's not so much money that's needed - it's a person to point you in the right direction, to help you ask the questions that are answerable in a certain timeframe and with certain resources, and that is invaluable.
Getting back to Bassettlover's question - I think the YES competition may be an avenue for a student without a "lab". I'm just starting to look into this - we have a number of years before my kids would be eligible - but the projects seem reasonable for a smart kid with fewer resources. Just my observation.
