X-ray science

Petroglyphs are carved in a material called rock varnish, the origins of which have been debated for years. Now, scientists argue it’s the result of bacteria and an adaptation that protects them from the desert sun’s harsh rays.

Measuring the process in unprecedented detail gives them clues to how to minimize the problem and protect battery performance.

The Horizon Prizes celebrate the most exciting, contemporary chemical science at the cutting edge of research and innovation.

From the invisible world of elementary particles to the mysteries of the cosmos, recipients of this prestigious award for early career scientists explore nature at every level.

Edward Hohenstein, Emma McBride and Caterina Vernieri study what happens to molecules hit by light, recreate extreme states of matter like those inside stars and planets, and search for new physics phenomena at the most fundamental level.

With a new suite of tools, scientists discovered exactly how tiny plate-like catalyst particles carry out a key step in that conversion – the evolution of oxygen in an electrocatalytic cell – in unprecedented detail.

Known as “pair-density waves,” it may be key to understanding how superconductivity can exist at relatively high temperatures.

Exploring and manipulating the behavior of polar vortices in materials may lead to new technology for faster data transfer and storage.

Two groups of researchers drew on SLAC tools to better understand how to target a key part of the virus that causes COVID-19.

SSRL and LCLS scientists will help visiting research teams solve their experimental challenges, then apply what they’ve learned to help others work more efficiently.

It can help operators optimize the performance of X-ray lasers, electron microscopes, medical accelerators and other devices that depend on high-quality beams.