What’s Happening Today!

Welcome to a new & exciting daily post from That Black Chemist! 

Today is a literal launchpad for aspiring aerospace engineers: NASA Student Launch is a 9-month design challenge where student teams build and launch high-powered rockets carrying real scientific payloads. Open to U.S. students in grades 6–12 and university programs, this challenge offers hands-on experience, NASA mentorship, and a final launch event in Huntsville, Alabama.

The University of Michigan just activated NSF ZEUS, now the most powerful laser in the U.S. For a split second, this two-petawatt ultrafast laser can outperform the planet’s total power grid output. With applications from cancer treatment to quantum physics, ZEUS is bringing high-intensity laser science back to the forefront of American innovation.

In science today, a new dual-site catalyst has made methanol production from CO₂ 66% more efficient than previous methods. Developed by researchers at Yale, Oregon State, and Ohio State, this breakthrough could reshape fuel production and cut down waste.

Upcoming Opportunities

🚀 NASA Student Launch Provides High School & College Students the Ultimate Challenge

Ready to take your STEM skills sky-high? NASA’s Student Launch is a 9-month, hands-on engineering challenge where student teams across the U.S. design, build, and fly a high-powered rocket equipped with a scientific or engineering payload.

Open to both:

• 🧪 Grades 6–12 through the Student Launch Initiative (non-competitive educational division)

• 🛰️ College & university students through the University Student Launch Initiative (USLI) (competitive division)

Students will engage with NASA engineers, submit design proposals, and pass real NASA-style review milestones before launching in Huntsville, Alabama, home of the Marshall Space Flight Center.

📅 Competition Details

• Location: Huntsville, AL.

• Timeline: 9-month program (2026 launch dates coming this August).

• Eligibility: U.S. middle school, high school, and college students.

• Website: [Click Here]

⚠️ Bonus Opportunities You Should Know

• 🧪 NSF REU Summer Research Programs: List of funded undergrad research programs. (Search here)

• 🎓 Zintellect: List of scholarships, research fellowships, and internship opportunities funded by the U.S. government or private sector. (Search here)

• 💰 NASA OSTEM Internships: List of NASA Internships for high school and undergraduate STEM students. (More info)

• 🪖 Department of Defense (DoD) SMART Scholarship: $30,000-$46,000 scholarship awarded to top STEM students. (Link)

🌍 International Opportunities

• 🧲 Pathways to Science: List of upcoming internships, scholarships, and research programs hosted by any country [open to international students]. (Search here)

• 🔬 Amgen Scholars Program: Prestigious summer research program for undergraduate students in the U.S., Europe, or Asia. (More info)

• ⚛️ European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN): Search for any upcoming internships related to chemistry, physics, engineering, or data science! (Link here)

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Scientist’s Scroll

⚡ NSF ZEUS Becomes Most Powerful Laser in the U.S.

The University of Michigan is now home to the most powerful laser in the nation: the NSF ZEUS (Zettawatt-Equivalent Ultrashort pulse laser System). This groundbreaking facility just fired a laser pulse at 2 petawatts (2×10^15 watts) in a burst lasting only 25 quintillionths of a second. In that instant, ZEUS outshined the entire world’s electrical grid by 100x.

ZEUS is open to scientists across the country and will support cutting-edge research in quantum physics, plasma science, medical imaging, cancer therapy, materials science, and even national security.

🔗 Read the full article here —>

Tip of the Day

❓ Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions in Class, Lab or Research

Asking questions doesn’t make you look unprepared: it makes you look engaged. Whether you’re in a lecture, lab meeting, or research setting, speaking up is one of the smartest moves you can make. Here’s why:

• 🧠 Boosts Understanding: If you’re confused, chances are others are too. Clarifying concepts early prevents bigger mistakes later.

• 🔬 Saves Time in Research: Lab work and experiments can be complex. A well-placed question can prevent hours—or weeks—of wasted effort.

• 🤝 Shows Initiative: Asking thoughtful questions signals curiosity, critical thinking, and a genuine desire to learn. These are traits mentors love to see.

• 🧩 Connects the Dots: In science and engineering, asking “why” or “how” often leads to deeper understanding and unexpected insights.

• 💬 Builds Confidence: The more you ask, the easier it gets. You’ll stop worrying about sounding “dumb” and start growing faster than ever.

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Today’s Theme: What’s Happening Wednesday

This Week in Science: Turning CO₂ Into Fuel & Plastics

🌿 New Catalyst Converts CO₂ to Methanol 66% More Efficiently

Researchers funded by the National Science Foundation have created a groundbreaking method to produce methanol—a key ingredient in plastics, fuels, and solvents—by converting carbon dioxide to methanol at greater efficiency.

Using nickel- and cobalt-based catalysts on nanotubes, the team (from Yale, Oregon State, and Ohio State) reached a 66% boost in efficiency over the previous best method, all while using less electricity.

Methanol isn’t just for manufacturing: it’s being explored as a clean energy source for cars, ships, and power plants. This new method could help recycle atmospheric CO₂ and even turn agricultural or municipal waste into usable fuel.

🔗 Read the full article here —>

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