Best of the Week: Spectroscopy Around the Globe, Connecting Students to Internships, ACS Fall 2026 Meeting

Welcome back to Best of the Week, where we round up the top content from Spectroscopy this week. Between our launch of “Spectroscopy Around the Globe” and a new episode of “Pathways in Spectroscopy,” there was a lot of interesting content published this week. Let’s dive in.

First up, we're thrilled to introduce a brand-new series: "Spectroscopy Around the Globe." In our debut episode, we focused our discussion on Egypt, exploring how spectroscopy is helping researchers unlock the secrets of the Giza Pyramids. Techniques like infrared (IR) thermography, muon tomography, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and Fourier transform IR (FT-IR) spectroscopy are giving scientists an unprecedented look inside these ancient structures, revealing hidden chambers, material compositions, and conservation needs. And it doesn't stop there. Spectroscopy is also being applied to papyri, pottery, mummification materials, and gemstones, painting a richer picture of life in Ancient Egypt. It's a fascinating watch, so make sure you check it out.

Next, we released a new episode of "Pathways in Spectroscopy," and this one is essential viewing for students trying to break into the field. Mary Kate Donais of St. Anselm College sits down to discuss how networking and flexibility can make all the difference when it comes to landing an internship. She talks about the power of LinkedIn, leaning on your personal and professional networks, and importantly, why the perfect internship doesn't need to perfectly match your career goals. Any experience that sharpens your laboratory skills, communication, and teamwork is experience that opens doors. There was a lot of good practical advice given here.

And finally, mark your calendars: the ACS Fall 2026 Meeting is coming to Chicago in late August. The theme is "Chemists Making History," and with 150 years of the American Chemical Society being celebrated, that couldn't be more fitting. Expect Nobel laureate keynotes, major symposia on spectroscopy and analytical chemistry, networking events, a career fair, and more than 10,000 attendees. Virtual options are available as well.

That's your Best of the Week. Thanks for reading, and we'll see you next time.

References

1. Wetzel, W. Spectroscopy Around the Globe, Episode 1: The Giza Pyramids. Spectroscopy Online, 2026. https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/spectroscopy-around-the-globe-episode-1-the-giza-pyramids (accessed July 2, 2026).
2. Donais, M. K.; Wetzel, W. Pathways in Spectroscopy: Connecting Students to Valuable Internships. Spectroscopy Online, 2026. https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/pathways-in-spectroscopy-connecting-students-to-valuable-internships (accessed July 1, 2026).
3. Sanz-Novo, M.; Wetzel, W. The Recent Discoveries of the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array and the James Webb Space Telescope. Spectroscopy Online, 2026. https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/the-recent-discoveries-of-the-atacama-large-millimeter-submillimeter-array-and-the-james-webb-space-telescope (accessed July 1, 2026).
4. Wetzel, W.; Spectroscopy Staff. Why Spectroscopists Should Attend the ACS Fall 2026 Conference. Spectroscopy Online, 2026. https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/why-spectroscopists-should-attend-the-acs-fall-2026-conference (accessed July 2, 2026).