Biological Sciences
RSS Feed 
A Single Electron’s Tiny Leap Sets Off ‘Molecular Sunscreen’ Response
A new X-ray laser technique allows scientists to home in on these single-electron triggers to better understand organic molecules that respond to light, including receptors in your eyes, plastic products and DNA building blocks that need to protect themselves from cancer-causing mutations.
How a Single Chemical Bond Balances Cells Between Life and Death
With SLAC’s X-ray laser and synchrotron, scientists measured exactly how much energy goes into keeping this crucial bond from triggering a cell's death spiral.
SLAC Experiment is First to Decipher Atomic Structure of an Intact Virus with an X-ray Laser
The method dramatically reduces the amount of virus material required and allows scientists to get results several times faster.
SLAC X-Ray Beam Helps Uncover Blueprint for Lassa Virus Vaccine
A decade-long search ends at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, where researchers from The Scripps Research Institute emerge with a clear picture of how the deadly Lassa virus enters human cells.
Femtosecond Week Chat with the Director of SLAC's X-ray Laser
Mike Dunne answers questions about ultrafast science.
Beyond Femtoseconds
Researchers at SLAC are already looking at the largely unexplored realm of attosecond science.
New Ultrafast Science Fact Sheet
Our ultrafast science factsheet gives an overview of the femtosecond world.
What Can You Study In Femtoseconds? Biology and Chemistry
PULSE scientist Amy Cordones-Hahn describes her work on chemical reactions that turn sunlight into useable energy.
Scales of Time
Explore the fourth dimension, from processes that occur in billions of years down to tiny slivers of a second.
What is a Femtosecond?
Ryan Coffee, scientist at the Linac Coherent Light Source, explains in a video interview.
