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

Today we’re spotlighting the NSF’s 7th annual Frontiers in Ocean Science Symposium, a virtual research symposium covering the latest research, questions, and concerns in ocean sciences. Check out this opportunity if you’re curious about marine sciences and preservation!

Next, we’re focusing on the NIST and its use of quantitative MRI to better map and quantify radiation treatment in cancer-killing therapy. The researchers have discovered unique ways that X-rays can interfere with human tissues too.

And finally, learn about the history of quantum computing at NIST and the revolution it brought about.

Upcoming Opportunities

🌊 Dive into the Future of Ocean Science (Virtual)

In honor of World Ocean Month, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is hosting its 7th annual Frontiers in Ocean Sciences Symposium, spotlighting NSF-funded scientists who are advancing our understanding of the ocean.

This year’s event centers on the National Academies' new report, "Forecasting the Ocean: The 2025–2035 Decade of Ocean Science." The symposium will begin with a panel discussion from the report’s authors, followed by three themed sessions that explore key scientific questions for the next decade:

• 🌡️ Ocean & Climate: How will the ocean’s capacity to absorb heat and carbon evolve?

• 🏭 Sustainable extraction and processing

• 🌿 Ecosystem Resilience: How will marine ecosystems adapt to Earth system changes?

• 🌊 Extreme Events: How can we better forecast ocean-driven natural disasters?

✅ Symposium Details

• Dates: June 30th, 2025, 12:30-4:30 PM EST

• Location: Online

• Host: National Science Foundation Division of Ocean Sciences

• Register Here: [Link to Registration]

⚠️ Bonus Opportunities You Should Know

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

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Scientist’s Scroll

🧲 Mapping Radiation to Fight Cancer with MRI & Gel Phantoms

Stephen Russek and researchers at NIST are developing 3D “phantoms” to better map and measure radiation used in cancer treatment.

These phantoms, used with a cutting-edge quantitative MRI, help track exactly how radiation is absorbed in human-like tissue. This tech could revolutionize personalized radiation therapy, reduce side effects, and improve patient outcomes long after treatment.

Powered by decades of magnetic research and a mission to improve patient care, this work represents the future of safer, smarter medical radiation.

🔗 Read the full article here —>

Tip of the Day

🧠 Use AI to Help You Read Scientific Papers

Reading scientific literature can be overwhelming, especially when you're just starting out. But now, AI tools can give you a major edge in understanding and summarizing dense academic texts. Here’s how:

• Get Quick Summaries: AI tools like ChatGPT or SciSummary can break down complex papers into clear, digestible points.

• Highlight Key Takeaways: Don’t waste time scanning jargon. Ask AI to pull out the main results, methods, and why the study matters.

• Clarify Unfamiliar Terms: Stuck on something like "optogenetics" or "Langmuir isotherms"? AI can explain any scientific term in plain English.

• Save Time and Brainpower: Instead of rereading the abstract five times, use AI to translate it into what it really means for your field.

• Go Deeper, Faster: Once you grasp the basics, you can dive into the data, figures, or methodology with more confidence and better questions for lab meetings.

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Today’s Theme: Throwback Thursday

⚛️ NIST and the Birth of Quantum Computing

In the 1990s, researchers at NIST were developing atomic clocks, unknowingly laying the groundwork for quantum computing. These clocks used ions in superposition, which turned out to be perfect qubits—the basic units of quantum information.

After a pivotal 1994 paper by Peter Shor revealed quantum computers’ potential to break encryption, NIST organized the first-ever workshop on quantum computing. Within a year, NIST scientists had built the first quantum logic gate using beryllium ions, a major milestone that’s been cited over 1,200 times.

While we’re still early in the “quantum marathon,” NIST’s early investments in ion traps, logic gates, and fundamental science continue to shape this cutting-edge field today.

🔗 Read the full article here —>

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