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The Advanced Light Source is a U.S. Department of Energy scientific user facility at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Our mission is to advance science for the benefit of society by providing our world-class synchrotron light source capabilities and expertise to a broad scientific community.

ANNOUNCEMENT

ALS Fellowship Applications Being Accepted

Students and postdocs can apply to spend a year in residence at the ALS conducting research and instrumentation development in collaboration with their home institution. Apply by March 29 for fellowships that begin September 1. Learn more>>

Tracking the Breakdown of Cellulose at the Micron Scale

A time-resolved study using infrared spectromicroscopy in a carefully controlled environment revealed why enzymes get bogged down when trying to break up cellulose from plants. The work sheds new light on the challenge of extracting the sugars locked up in plants for use in making petroleum-free fuels, chemicals, and medicines. Read more »PPT-icon-35 PDF-icon-35

Bifurcation of High- and Low-Energy Electrons in Microbial Metabolism

A class of chemical reaction found only in biology, electron bifurcation channels two electrons from one donor to two separate acceptors, with one electron elevated in energy at the expense of lowering the energy of the second. Researchers used the ALS to study this process in a microbial protein involved in this bioenergetic pathway. Read more »

The Effects of Diabetes on Spinal-Column Biomechanics

Researchers found that type 2 diabetes induces earlier onset of plastic (nonrecoverable) deformation in intervertebral discs by impairing the biomechanical behavior of collagen. A greater understanding of the underlying causes of tissue failure in diabetes—a growing problem worldwide—is important in helping to prevent and treat symptoms. Read more »PPT-icon-35

Matthew Marcus, STXM Beamline Scientist

From the microscope at work to the telescope at home, Matthew Marcus is captivated by space sciences. In this interview, he shares some of the findings from Beamline 5.3.2.2 as well as stories from his long career in x-ray science. Read more »

Save the Date: 2024 ALS User Meeting

Don’t miss the 2024 ALS User Meeting featuring invited speakers, hands-on workshops, tutorials, and a potential collaborative workshop with the ALS and Molecular Foundry. Exciting discussions await, so mark your calendars for August 12–14. Read more »