A breakthrough in the search for cosmic particle accelerators has been made by tracing a single neutrino back to a galaxy over three billion light years away. The discovery was made using an internationally organized astronomical dragnet and confirms that high-energy cosmic rays are produced in cosmic particle accelerators.
Researchers at DESY's PETRA III facility have created a novel, ultra-strong bio-material made from cellulose nanofibres. The material boasts exceptional tensile stiffness of 86 GPa and strength of 1.57 GPa, outperforming steel and even dragline spider silk.
Researchers use X-ray laser to heat water from room temperature to 100,000 degrees Celsius in less than a tenth of a picosecond, producing an exotic state of matter. This study has significant implications for understanding the properties of water and its behavior under extreme conditions.
Researchers used a powerful X-ray laser to analyze amyloid proteins, which are linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The new method allows for detailed structural analysis of individual amyloid fibrils, enabling scientists to better understand their role in disease development.
Researchers have developed a 'Swiss army knife' for electron beams, combining acceleration, compression, focusing and analysis in a single device. The Segmented Terahertz Electron Accelerator and Manipulator (STEAM) uses precise timing control to perform these functions with ultra-high precision.
Researchers at DESY's NanoLab found that nanoparticles with a large number of edges are more efficient in catalytic reactions. The study revealed that the different facets of the nanoparticles become inactive due to growing oxide islands, leaving active sites for the reaction.
Researchers at DESY's X-ray source PETRA III have observed the growth of gallium arsenide nanowires for the first time, providing new insights into their shape and crystal structure. The study reveals a second component contributing to the growth process, allowing wires to gain width independently of the VLS mechanism.
Scientists have discovered a way to create materials with new properties by inducing liquid crystals to form ordered rings in nanopores. This self-assembly process allows for the design of nanomaterials that can be controlled through temperature, enabling novel applications in organic semiconductors.
High-pressure X-ray measurements reveal the formation of a new phase of kaolinite, a clay mineral containing aluminium, under conditions similar to those in subduction zones. The super-hydrated phase contains more water than any other known aluminosilicate mineral in the mantle.
A new experimental setup allows for serial crystallography using broad-spectrum X-rays at synchrotron sources, enabling the study of proteins with smaller samples and shorter exposure times. This method reduces unwanted scattered radiation, making it possible to determine protein structures with high precision.
Researchers used microwave spectroscopy to analyze the structure of a single molecular motor, revealing its stator, rotor, and axle. The study provides insight into the motor's dynamics and opens up possibilities for studying nano-machines in action.
Scientists used an X-ray free-electron laser to determine the atomic structure of an intact virus particle on a microchip containing thousands of tiny pores. This new method allows for faster and more efficient analysis, reducing sample material waste.
Researchers have solved a long-standing riddle in the analysis of meteorites from Moon and Mars using high-pressure experiments at DESY's X-ray light source PETRA III. The study reveals that cristobalite can transform into seifertite under non-hydrostatic conditions, challenging previous assessments of meteorite formation conditions.
Researchers use ultra-bright X-ray light to ionize a molecule, creating a 'molecular black hole' that explodes within a trillionth of a second. The study provides crucial information for analyzing complex molecules with X-ray lasers.
Researchers at DESY synthesised the first transparent sample of cubic silicon nitride, a popular industrial ceramic that can withstand extreme temperatures and pressures. The new material has potential industrial applications in engines and other high-performance industries.
Scientists developed a novel double flow-focusing nozzle to reduce protein crystal consumption in X-ray crystallography. The new device enables stable experimental conditions, increases the rate of high-quality diffraction patterns, and widens the spectrum of biomolecules that can be analysed.
Researchers at DESY developed tailor-made corrective glasses to concentrate X-ray beams stronger than ever before. The lenses improved focus by three-quarters and reduced scattered light, enabling more precise measurements and new applications.
Researchers used high-intensity X-ray pulses to determine the structure of a viral cocoon down to a scale of 0.2 nanometres, approaching atom-scale resolution. The tiny viruses with their crystal casing are by far the smallest protein crystals ever analyzed using X-ray crystallography.
Researchers have laid the foundations for a new type of photovoltaic cell that uses infrared radiation to generate electrical energy. The solid-state solar cell relies on polaron excitations, which combine electron excitation with lattice vibrations, allowing for more efficient energy conversion. By modifying and optimizing the materia...
Researchers produced artificial silk fibres with tailored properties by self-assembling nanofibrils formed from cow's whey protein under heat and acid. The fibre's strength depends on the balance between nanostructure and fibril entanglement, with curved nanofibrils forming stronger fibres than straight ones.
Researchers at DESY and MIT create a miniaturized electron gun that accelerates electrons to high speeds using terahertz radiation. The device has the potential to revolutionize ultrafast electron diffraction experiments and enable new applications in physics and materials science.
Researchers used a German-Hungarian team to extend the Standard Model and predict axion mass range for dark matter detection. The results suggest that axions could make up 85% of the universe's mass, with masses between 50-1500 micro-electronvolts.
Researchers used DESY's X-ray source PETRA III to observe the degradation of plastic solar cells, revealing that domains shrink and efficiency decreases due to residual solvent additive. Strategies to stabilise structure through chemical bonding or customised encapsulating substances are proposed.
Researchers have discovered that arsenic accumulates in the nuclei of plants' cells at low concentrations, impairing photosynthesis. The toxic metalloid can cause genetic damage by replacing phosphorus in genes.
Researchers directly measured the thermal conductivity of iron at pressures and temperatures corresponding to planetary core conditions for the first time. The results, published in Nature, contradict theoretical calculations and resolve a long-standing debate about the so-called geodynamo paradox.
Researchers used high-pressure experiments to create two new iron oxides, which decompose at extreme conditions and release significant amounts of oxygen-rich fluid. The discovery suggests a huge oxygen source in the Earth's lower mantle that can affect geochemical processes.
Researchers develop a new technique to determine the spatial structures of proteins and molecules without prior knowledge, revolutionizing crystallography. The method provides insights into the modes of action of biomolecules and can lead to tailor-made drugs for diseases.
A team of researchers has made significant progress in developing a miniature particle accelerator on a microchip, with the potential to revolutionize various fields such as biology, materials science, security scanning, medical therapy, and X-ray imaging.
The EU has allocated €3 million for a design study on a European plasma research accelerator, which aims to develop a new technology for particle acceleration. The EuPRAXIA project will produce a conceptual design report for the world's first five Giga-Electronvolts plasma-based accelerator.
Researchers analyzed a Van Gogh painting using X-rays to determine the type of chrome yellow used. They found that lighter shades were more susceptible to degradation and darkened over time.
Researchers have built the first prototype of a miniature particle accelerator that uses terahertz radiation, demonstrating feasibility and potential for miniaturizing entire setups. The technology holds promise for various applications, including materials science, medicine, and particle physics.
Researchers achieve unprecedented pressures of up to 770 GPa, revealing osmium's structural stability and interaction between core electrons. The findings have implications for understanding physics and chemistry of highly compressed matter.
Researchers have used ultra-short pulses of X-rays to create a film of shock waves in diamonds, providing new insights into the structure of these hard materials. The study reveals that intense shock waves can compress diamond by almost ten percent, opening up new perspectives on its dynamic behavior under high pressure.
Researchers observe chemical processes during photographic exposure in real-time, revealing grain rotation and lattice deformation. The technique enables millisecond temporal resolution for investigating dynamic processes in materials.
A novel X-ray lens designed by DESY scientists has been successfully tested, producing sharper and brighter images of the nano world. The lens employs a unique concept to redirect X-rays over a wide range of angles, enabling high convergence power and resolving smaller details.
Researchers at Hamburg University of Technology, DESY, and Nestle found that reducing porosity, storing products at ideal temperatures, and controlling crystallization can help minimize fat bloom. This study provides new insights into the formation of fat bloom, an issue affecting millions in the food industry.
Researchers from Universities of Hamburg and Aarhus decode molecular structure of two promising drug candidates from Spiegelmers for the first time. The results provide a deeper understanding of the mode of action of these substances that have already entered clinical trials.
Researchers used X-ray fluorescence to visualize structural damage in lithium-ion batteries due to fast charging cycles, leading to reduced storage capacity. The study found that even a few charging cycles cause damage to the inner structure of the battery material.
Researchers identify plumbonacrite as intermediate in degradation of red lead, leading to bleaching of the color over time. The discovery sheds new insights into the bleaching process of red lead, revealing a possible reaction pathway involving light and carbon dioxide.
Researchers found that adding magnetite nanoparticles increases the performance of polymer solar cells, allowing them to convert more incident light into electrical power. The addition of heavy elements enables a material conversion that prolongs the lifetime of electron-hole pairs, leading to higher efficiency.
A German-American research team has determined the three-dimensional shape of free-flying silver nanoparticles for the first time, using DESY's X-ray laser FLASH. The tiny particles exhibit an unexpected variety of shapes, including Platonic and Archimedean bodies.
Researchers used X-ray laser to capture PYP photocycle with atomic spatial resolution and ultrafast temporal resolution. The study revealed finer details of the cycle, including steps shorter than 1 picosecond.
Researchers at DESY used high-speed photography to observe the formation of magnetic microvortices in ultrafast memory cells. The study provides a better understanding of magnetic storage materials and their dynamics, with potential implications for faster and better data storage media.
Researchers at DESY's PETRA III have observed the growth of C60 molecules into ultra-smooth layers, revealing fundamental insights into molecular growth processes. The team determined three major energy parameters simultaneously, enabling the potential for selective nanostructure growth.
Researchers have used X-ray diffraction to investigate photosystem II, revealing structures yet unknown. The results show that photosystem II proteins are arranged within crystals as extended rows, similar to their natural environment.
Researchers have developed an X-ray stroboscope to study the movement of lipid molecules, revealing their dynamic properties and behavior. The technique allows for high-resolution imaging of molecular structure and dynamics, shedding light on the biology of cell membranes.
Scientists from DTU have created a new technique to produce cheap, flexible and versatile double solar cells using roll-to-roll processing. The method uses 3D ptychography to image the layer structure of the tandem solar cell, which converts 2.67% of incoming sunlight into electric energy.
Researchers have developed a method to isolate and separate para and ortho water molecules, which differ in their nuclear spin states. This breakthrough could provide new insights into various phenomena, including the study of interstellar ice and protein structures.
Researchers detected quantum vortices in nanodroplets of liquid helium, forming a densely packed lattice. The droplets rotated at up to 14 million times per second, defying classical physics.
Scientists observe electrons jumping between molecular fragments up to a distance of about 20 Ångström, marking the transition from molecular to atomic regimes. The study provides insights into charge transfer mechanisms that play a role in numerous chemical processes, including photosynthesis and solar cells.