What’s Happening Today!

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The Research Triangle Nanotechnology Network (RTNN) is now accepting applications for its 2026 REU program on hybrid perovskite materials. Over 10 weeks, undergraduates will conduct hands-on research at UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State, or Duke, working with faculty mentors across chemistry, physics, and materials science. With a $7,000 stipend, housing, travel support, and professional development students gain cutting-edge lab experience while exploring perovskites for solar cells, lasers, and lighting.

Meanwhile, a Stanford-led team has demonstrated that brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) can decode not just spoken attempts but also inner speech. By recording neural activity in people with paralysis, researchers translated imagined words and sentences in real time. Though error rates were higher for large vocabularies, this work opens the door to faster, more natural communication.

Upcoming Opportunities

👩‍🔬 RT-REU on Hybrid Perovskite Materials

The Research Triangle Nanotechnology Network (RTNN) hosts a collaborative NSF REU site where undergraduates spend 10 weeks conducting hands-on research on hybrid perovskites—materials with breakthrough applications in solar cells, lighting, and lasers. Students are placed in labs at UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State, or Duke, working under faculty mentors across chemistry, physics, and materials science. Each student partners with a peer at another RTNN institution, while also engaging in professional development, team-building, and the national NNCI REU Convocation at UC San Diego.

📅 Program Details

• Application Deadline: TBD (rolling until filled)

• Program Dates: ~Mid-May – Early August 2026

• Location: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC State University, Duke University (Research Triangle, NC)

• Duration: 10 weeks, full-time commitment

• Stipend & Benefits: $7,000 stipend (inclusive of food/transportation) + housing, travel support, professional development, and REU convocation attendance

• Register Here: [Website]

✅ Eligibility

• U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident

• Enrolled undergraduate student

⚠️ 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

🧠 Decoding Inner Speech With BCIs: Promise and Privacy Challenges

A Stanford-led team has shown that brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) can decode not only attempted speech but also inner speech by recording neural activity from the motor cortex of people with paralysis.

The study found that attempted and inner speech produce similar brain activity patterns, though attempted speech generates stronger signals. Using this insight, researchers decoded imagined words and sentences in real time, with error rates ranging from 14–33% for a 50-word set and 26–54% for a 125,000-word set.

🔗 Read the full article here —>

Let Me Help You!

How an Ivy League Scientist Organizes His Schedule

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Tip of the Day

⚗️ Measure Smarter with the Right Glassware

Not all lab glassware is created equal: each type is designed for different levels of accuracy and precision. Here’s how to choose wisely:

• Beakers = Estimates: Great for mixing or transferring, but not for precise measurements.

• Graduated Cylinders = Good Precision: More accurate than beakers, ideal for routine liquid measurements.

• Volumetric Flasks = High Accuracy: Calibrated to contain a specific volume—perfect for making standard solutions.

• Pipettes & Burettes = Highest Precision: Used when exact delivery of volume is critical, such as in titrations.

• Know the Limits: Even the best glassware has error margins—use the right tool for the accuracy you need.

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Today’s Theme: What’s Happening Wednesday

This Week in Science: Lithium’s Link to Alzheimer’s

🧠 Lithium Shows Promise in Protecting Against Dementia

A large-scale health study of more than 30,000 patients has revealed that those prescribed lithium were significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those who weren’t.

Scientists believe lithium may reduce inflammation and amyloid buildup in the brain, two hallmarks of Alzheimer’s progression. While more clinical trials are needed, the findings suggest that low-dose lithium could one day be repurposed as a preventive therapy.

With Alzheimer’s cases projected to triple worldwide by 2050, lithium’s protective potential could represent an important step toward slowing one of the most urgent global health challenges of the century.

🔗 Read the full article here —>

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• Chat GPT 5.0 (newest version) limits your free daily conversations.

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• Chat GPT fails to derive or calculate long proofs in math-heavy problems consistently.

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