The Advanced Light Source Upgrade project will generate brighter beams of X-ray light, allowing researchers to push the boundaries of quantum materials research further by collecting data with far greater detail than has been possible before. Read more »
Hidden State Precedes Superconductivity in Kagome Metal
Experiments at the ALS revealed a hidden electronic phase that breaks time-reversal symmetry before a charge-density wave forms in a kagome metal. Because hidden electronic order can compete with or shape superconductivity, this finding helps guide the search for high-temperature, unconventional superconducting materials. Read more »
Scientists Uncover How Calcite Repairs Cracks in Its Structure
Researchers uncovered how calcite repairs cracks in its structure over time. These findings could improve reservoir management for extracting resources such as geothermal energy from the Earth. Read more »
Microscopy Reveals How Early Human Diets Led to Tougher Teeth
Microscopy at the ALS revealed that nanocrystal misorientation in tooth enamel tracked major dietary shifts in primates, contributing to enamel’s resilience. These structural details provide a blueprint for developing tougher, crack-resistant bioinspired materials, next-generation structural ceramics, and coatings. Read more »
ALS Fellowship Application Window Opens in September
Applications for fellowships to start in winter or spring 2027 will be accepted from September 8–October 2. Fellows will spend up to a year in residence at the ALS pursuing research projects in teams that include staff and the user community, and will be exposed to current scientific challenges that advanced synchrotron radiation tools can tackle. Read more »