Approximately 1,700 scientists visit SSRL annually to conduct experiments in broad disciplines including life sciences, materials, environmental science, and accelerator physics. Science highlights featured here and in our monthly newsletter, Headlines, increase the visibility of user science as well as the important contribution of SSRL in facilitating basic and applied scientific research. Many of these scientific highlights have been included in reports to funding agencies and have been picked up by other media. Users are strongly encouraged to contact us when exciting results are about to be published. We can work with users and the SLAC Office of Communication to develop the story and to communicate user research findings to a much broader audience.
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Reversible CO-binding to the Active Site of Nitrogenase
As a basic biological building block of amino acids and DNA, nitrogen is necessary for life. Yet most of the Earth’s nitrogen is contained in the atmosphere as dinitrogen, which most organisms are unable to use because they cannot break dinitrogen’s N-N-triple bond.
Mapping Metals Incorporation of a Single Catalyst Particle Using Element Specific X-ray Nanotomography
One of the most important processes used in petroleum refineries is called fluid catalytic cracking (FCC). This chemical process converts large or heavy molecules of crude oil into smaller and lighter hydrocarbons, such as gasoline. This useful conversion is thanks in great part to a tiny catalyst particle just 50 to 150 millionths of a meter in diameter.
Unconventional Switching Behavior in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/La0.7Sr0.3CoO3 Exchange-spring Bilayer
Advanced permanent magnets with low cost and high energy density are important for next-generation technologies, and one promising type of advanced magnet is the exchange spring magnet.
Crystal Structure of Cascade
With more viruses that infect bacteria than any other type of biological entity, bacteria have developed a sophisticated means of defending themselves. At the heart of their defenses is a system called CRISPR (short for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat).
Spectroscopic Evidence for the Phase Competition between the Pseudogap and High-Tc Superconductivity
Graphene Produces More Efficient Charge Transport Inside an Organic Semiconductor

Graphene – a one-atom thick sheet of carbon – shows great promise for future electronics.
CRISPR RNA-guided Surveillance in Escherichia Coli
With more viruses that infect bacteria than any other type of biological entity, bacteria have developed a sophisticated means of defending themselves. At the heart of their defenses is a system called CRISPR (short for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat).
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We can work with users and the SLAC Office of Communication to develop the story and to communicate user research findings to a much broader audience.