What’s Happening Today!

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

Today’s spotlight is the NASA Internships & Pathways Info Session, a virtual event featuring a panel of NASA interns reflecting on their experience working for the organization. Whether you're a physics undergrad, chemistry enthusiast, or STEM-curious student, this fully virtual event will connect you directly with NASA mentors. You’ll learn how to apply, what projects interns work on, and how to stand out.

Now let’s pivot from space to the elements, specifically, Americium-241. Best known as the radioactive isotope inside household smoke detectors, Am-241 quietly saves lives every day. This isotope also plays a role in industrial gauges and has potential use in spacecraft power sources.

Thanks for staying around for another awesome week of internship, scholarship, and research information from That Black Chemist!

Upcoming Opportunities

🚀 NASA Internship Experience: Insights from Interns and Mentors

Celebrate NASA Intern Week with a behind-the-scenes look into what it’s like to intern at NASA! Join current interns and experienced mentors as they share tips, stories, and guidance on applying to NASA’s internship program.

📌 Details:

• Who: U.S. students interested in NASA internships

• Description: Virtual panel with NASA interns and mentors—including program overview, application tips, personal stories, and live Q&A

• When: Friday, August 1st, 2025 | 1-2 PM EST (virtual)

• Register by: Thursday, July 31st, 2025

• Link: [Register here]

⚠️ Bonus Opportunities You Should Know

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

• 🎓 Pathways to Science: List of paid internships and research opportunities for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. (Search here)

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

• 🧠 NASA Pathways Internship: Multi-semester internship involving different career paths at NASA (Link).

🌍 International Opportunities

• 🧲 Pathways to Science: List of upcoming internships, scholarships, and research programs hosted by the U.S. [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

🧠 Americium-241: Boosting U.S. Production of a Critical Nuclear Isotope

From smoke detectors to space batteries, Americium-241 powers essential tech across homes, hospitals, and space missions, but only a handful of places in the world make it. Now, researchers at Los Alamos National Lab are scaling up U.S. production with smarter chemistry.

By testing dozens of resins under extreme radiation and acidic conditions, scientists found a new class of extraction materials that don’t break down like the old ones. These next-gen resins boost isotope yield, reduce toxic waste, and protect workers from radiation—all while supporting larger batch sizes and using diverse raw materials.

This marks a key milestone for U.S. supply chain resilience and the future of isotope-based technology, from nuclear batteries on Mars rovers to safety tech in every home.

🔗 Read the full article here —>

Tip of the Day

🌱 Do One New Thing Every Day

Big goals are built from small wins. Whether you're launching a research project or just trying to improve your routine, momentum comes from novelty. Each new step—no matter how small—adds to your growth. Here's why daily progress matters:

• You’ll Build Confidence: Starting something new—big or small—teaches you that you can do hard things. That confidence will compound.

• You’ll Discover What Excites You: Trying a new technique, topic, or tool helps you explore what clicks. The more you explore, the better your compass gets.

• You’ll Turn Fear Into Curiosity: Most of us hesitate because we fear failure. However reframing new challenges as experiments turns pressure into play.

• You’ll Make Progress Without Burnout: A new habit doesn’t require a life overhaul. One small, intentional action per day keeps you moving forward without overwhelming your brain.

• You’ll Accumulate a Portfolio of Wins: In 30 days, you’ll have 30 new actions under your belt. That’s momentum you can see and confidence you can prove.

Subscribe to explore daily research opportunities!

Today’s Theme: Fact or Fiction Friday

Congratulations on making it through the work week! Ready to test your science savvy?

👇🏾 Vote if you think the statement below is fact or fiction and tell us why in the comments!

Statement: Infrared radiation has a shorter wavelength than ultraviolet radiation.

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