A new approach creates an exceptional single-atom catalyst for water splitting
Anchoring individual iridium atoms on the surface of a catalytic particle boosted its performance in carrying out a reaction that’s been a bottleneck for sustainable energy production.
Closing the gate on manganese could open doors to new drugs to treat pneumonia
Drawing on SLAC facilities, Australian researchers have revealed how Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria obtain manganese from our bodies, which could lead to better therapies to target the pathogen.
How extreme cold can crack lithium-ion battery materials, degrading performance
Storing the rechargeable batteries at sub-freezing temperatures can crack the battery cathode and separate it from other parts of the battery, a new study shows.
Scientists show a single catalyst can perform the first step of turning CO2 into fuel in two very different ways
Their work aims to bridge two approaches to driving the reaction – one powered by heat, the other by electricity – with the goal of discovering more efficient and sustainable ways to convert carbon dioxide into useful products.
Ilya Belopolski wins 2021 Spicer Young Investigator Award for work on exotic quantum materials
Belopolski has made key discoveries about Weyl semimetals and topological magnets, systems in which quantum effects produce new emergent particles with exotic electronic and magnetic properties.
AI learns physics to optimize particle accelerator performance
Teaching machine learning the basics of accelerator physics is particularly useful in situations where actual data don’t exist.
A detailed study of nickelate’s magnetism finds a strong kinship with cuprate superconductors
Nickelate materials give scientists an exciting new window into how unconventional superconductors carry electric current with no loss at relatively high temperatures.
Solving a long-standing mystery about the desert’s rock art canvas
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.
Scientists discover how oxygen loss saps a lithium-ion battery’s voltage
Measuring the process in unprecedented detail gives them clues to how to minimize the problem and protect battery performance.
Scientists glimpse signs of a puzzling state of matter in a superconductor
Known as “pair-density waves,” it may be key to understanding how superconductivity can exist at relatively high temperatures.
Researchers search for clues to COVID-19 treatment with help from synchrotron X-rays
Two groups of researchers drew on SLAC tools to better understand how to target a key part of the virus that causes COVID-19.
New collaboration aims to bring cutting-edge X-ray methods to more biological researchers
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.
Researchers discover long-sought mechanism behind worst cases of a common blood disorder
G6PD deficiency affects about 400M people worldwide and can pose serious health risks. Uncovering the causes of the most severe cases could finally lead to treatments.
Sulfur plays a role in the ocean’s carbon cycle, new study finds
The results suggest a possible feedback that could help trap carbon in the ocean’s low-oxygen zones, but the impact on climate change remains unclear.
During COVID-19, SLAC experiments continue with the help of remote technology
The lab’s X-ray laser recently joined other facilities in making remote science possible from any corner of the world, a trend that will likely continue into the future.
Researchers search uncharted waters to find a better data-storage material
Most new materials are discovered near the proverbial shore. Now, scientists deploy artificial intelligence and high-throughput experimental techniques to search previously uncharted waters to find revolutionary new materials.
Identifying COVID-19 antibodies for potential treatments
Images reveal how some antibodies may block SARS-CoV-2 infection.
SLAC researchers join effort to make plastic more recyclable
Scientists at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource will study plastics and biologically-motivated processes that break them down in hopes of finding more efficient ways to “upcycle” them.
A day in the life of a SLAC machine maker
At the Machine Shop, Pete Franco crafts beautiful, intricate and precise parts for the lab’s latest scientific tools.
Slideshow: 2020 SSRL/LCLS Users’ Meeting
The annual conference for scientists who conduct research at SLAC’s light sources engaged more than 1,700 researchers in talks, workshops and discussions.
