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Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) RSS feed

SSRL is a pioneering synchrotron radiation facility known for outstanding science, technological innovation and user support. It provides extremely bright X-rays that scientists use for a wide range of research that probes matter on the scales of atoms and molecules.

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Aerial view of Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL)

News Feature

A   swap of metals and a mutation ramp up the electric field strength at the active site of an enzyme, making it  ...

Illustration of an enzyme modified to work 50 times faster
News Feature

Powerful X-rays generated at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory help researchers shed new light on feather evolution.

This figure shows how protein compositions in feathers change over time and temperature.
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Sebek’s extraordinary career at SSRL includes helping build the facility’s original electron injector back in the 1980s and working on almost all of its...

This photograph shows 2023 Lytle award winner Jim Sebek at work on SSRL's electrical systems.
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James’ research on chronic and acute mercury exposure challenges conventional views

Ashley James sits on a park bench.
News Brief

They aim to help society respond ten times faster with treatments for future disease outbreaks.

This is a portrait photograph of SSRL scientist Aina Cohen.
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SLAC scientists showed that a carbon-metal compound with a perfectly placed nickel atom plays a key role in converting carbon dioxide into components for...

A multicolored diagram of a molecule.
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Garcia-Esparza’s research offers unique insights into catalysts relevant to renewable energy generation and emerging materials for microelectronics.

This is a photograph of SSRL scientist Angel Garcia Esparza, who was awarded the 2023 Spicer Award
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They used synthetic diamond crystals as mirrors to make X-ray pulses run laps inside a vacuum chamber, demonstrating a key process needed for future...

Two scientists in a control room full of computer monitors that allow them to adjust diamond mirrors in their CBXFEL experiment
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Leora Dresselhaus-Marais, Claudio Emma,  Bernhard Mistlberger and Johanna Nelson Weker will pursue cutting-edge research into decarbonizing steel production, theoretical physics, generating more intense particle...

This photo shows all four recipients from SLAC and Stanford of the DOE's 2023 Early Career Award
News Brief

The discovery will help art conservators develop new preservation techniques.

This image shows a portion of the 17th century painting, “Still Life with Flowers in a Glass Vase,” by Jan Davidszoon de Heem.
News Feature

Batteries come in many shapes and sizes, but their materials can be hard to source. SLAC researchers are trying to build them with more...

This is a graphic representation of a battery and the things that batteries can power
News Feature

Chemical reactions often involve intermediate steps that are too fast and complex for us to see  – even using our most advanced scientific instruments...

This is a graphic representation of an intermediate chemical reaction. The image shows the chemical reaction, a laser, X-rays and a detector system.