Scientists at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have clocked the fastest-possible electrical switching in magnetite, a naturally magnetic mineral. The results could drive innovations in tiny transistors that control electricity across silicon chips.
The study analyzed chemical traces from the first complete Archaeopteryx feather, revealing a patterned plumage. The findings contradict previous assumptions that all feathers were black and provide crucial insights into the evolution of bird feathers.
Researchers developed a printing process called FLUENCE that produces semiconductors with strikingly higher quality than conventional methods. The technique enables thin films capable of conducting electricity 10 times more efficiently, paving the way for revolutionary advances in organic electronics.
Researchers have designed a low-cost, long-life battery that can regulate natural fluctuations in solar and wind energy. The new battery uses lithium and sulfur molecules and has excellent energy-storage performance through over 2,000 charges and discharges.
Scientists used ultrafast X-ray pulses to study a chemical reaction in real-time, revealing surprising details of a short-lived early state at the catalyst's surface. The study offers important clues about how catalysts work, which is essential for producing new energy sources and reducing pollution.
Researchers used an X-ray laser to study the structure and chemical behavior of a natural catalyst involved in photosynthesis. The breakthrough, made possible by ultrafast and ultrabright X-ray pulses, provides insights into atomic-scale transformations in photosynthesis and other biological processes.
A new study confirms that cosmic rays are born in the violent aftermath of supernovas, exploding stars throughout the galaxy. Protons make up 90% of these particles, which are accelerated by shock waves and then decay into gamma-ray photons with distinctive signatures.
Scientists have used an X-ray laser to measure atomic processes in extreme plasmas, revealing a surprising finding: collisions with electrons are not a factor in reducing X-ray signals. This discovery challenges existing models and paves the way for future research using free-electron lasers.
Researchers at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have identified a new way to attack Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that causes ulcers and stomach cancer. By pinpointing the Achilles' heel of this tough bacteria, scientists hope to develop specific and effective treatments.
Scientists have mapped a weak spot in the parasite that causes African sleeping sickness, providing a promising target for treating the disease. The study uses X-ray lasers to determine the structure of biological molecules, which could lead to the development of a new drug.
Researchers observed a long-theorized exception to time reversal symmetry, finding certain particle types change into one another six times more often in one direction than the other. The BaBar experiment provided clear conditions for a direct measurement of time violation, confirming quantum field theory.
Using LCLS at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, researchers successfully stripped most electrons from xenon atoms, creating a highly charged state. This discovery could aid in studying extreme states of matter or avoiding damage in samples.
Scientists at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have improved the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) by using a diamond filter to create narrower X-ray wavelength bands, enabling sharper images of materials and molecules. This advancement promises to speed discoveries and add new scientific capabilities.
Researchers have created extremely hot and dense plasmas hundreds of times hotter than the sun's surface, challenging a widely accepted model. The study demonstrates the capabilities of LCLS X-ray laser, providing detailed information about plasma properties.
Researchers capture most detailed images of airborne soot particles, revealing surprising complexity and diversity. The study paves the way for understanding atmospheric processes and designing cleaner combustion sources.
Recent BaBar experiment data suggest a potential flaw in the Standard Model, with a particular type of particle decay happening more often than predicted. The results are intriguing but require replication and further investigation to confirm or rule out an actual discovery.
The Enriched Xenon Observatory 200 has detected no evidence of neutrinoless double-beta decay, ruling out a previous controversial result. The detector has also narrowed down the mass of the neutrino to less than 140-380 thousandths of an electronvolt.
Scientists have successfully imaged biomolecules at individual atom level using X-ray lasers, enabling new avenues for biological research. The technique, known as serial femtosecond crystallography, has been used to study a small protein called lysozyme and holds promise for understanding complex biological systems.
The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) camera has received 'Critical Decision 1' approval, moving forward with detailed engineering design and construction. The LSST will capture the widest, fastest, and deepest view of the night sky, aiding studies of dark energy, near-Earth asteroids, and the structure of our galaxy.
Scientists from Stanford University and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have created a system of 'designer electrons' with unique properties. By tuning the fundamental behavior of electrons, researchers can create exotic variants of ordinary electrons that may lead to new types of materials and devices.
Researchers used X-rays to decipher how certain natural antibiotics defy chemical rules, unlocking a mechanism that could enable scientists to synthesize many important chemicals currently found only in nature. The discovery has broad implications, as the six-membered ring is a common structural feature found in hundreds of drug molecu...
Scientists at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have created a 2-million-degree piece of matter using the world's most powerful X-ray laser. This achievement takes them a significant step forward in understanding extreme matter found in stars and giant planets, potentially leading to advancements in nuclear fusion research.
Researchers at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have created the shortest, purest X-ray laser pulses ever achieved, enabling ultrafast reactions to be seen in detail. This achievement fulfills a 1967 prediction and opens doors for new scientific discoveries.
Researchers identified carbon as the key atom in nitrogenase, an enzyme that converts atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for living things. The discovery could lead to a more efficient and environmentally friendly method for manufacturing fertilizer.
Scientists have created a new class of materials that exhibit both magnetic and superconducting properties, revolutionizing the field of electronics. By sandwiching two nonmagnetic insulators together, researchers discovered a material where the interface between the two has both magnetic and superconducting regions.
Researchers have discovered that metallic glass can form a single crystal at its core, offering new insights into its atomic structure and behavior. This finding may help improve the performance of commercially important materials such as anti-theft tags and power transformers.
Scientists have engineered a cheap and abundant alternative to platinum-based catalysts, enabling the production of hydrogen fuel from sunlight and water. This discovery is crucial for creating a sustainable green energy economy.
Researchers discovered a distinct order in electrons during pseudogap state, present both above and below superconducting temperatures. The findings provide a clear signpost for follow-up research to uncover the nature of the pseudogap order.
Researchers use X-ray laser to determine 3D structures of proteins and capture single-shot images of viruses, paving the way for snapshots and movies of molecules and microbes in action. The technique has the potential to decipher tens of thousands of protein structures and study infectious diseases.
The discovery of gamma-ray flares in the Crab Nebula, powered by a rapidly spinning neutron star, challenges current theories on cosmic particle acceleration. The flares were caused by super-charged electrons of up to 10 peta-electron volts, 1,000 times more energetic than any man-made accelerator.
Researchers found a strain of bacteria that can grow and produce life using arsenic in place of phosphorus. The discovery suggests that arsenic is being incorporated into the bacterial cells, replacing phosphorus in DNA, RNA, and proteins.
Researchers used X-rays to pinpoint locations of more than 50 mutations in the ryanodine receptor, a protein associated with calcium-related diseases. The study provides insights into how these mutations contribute to disease and could lead to new therapeutic targets for heart disease.
Researchers at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have successfully controlled individual electrons within simple atoms and molecules by stripping them away using intense pulses of X-ray light. This breakthrough enables the creation of hollow atoms with potential applications in future imaging experiments.
A team of paleontologists, geochemists, and physicists used X-ray technology to analyze the Thermopolis Archaeopteryx fossil, revealing half a dozen chemical elements that were part of the living animal itself. The study confirms that feathers in the fossil are actual fossilized feathers containing phosphorus and sulfur.
The US Department of Energy has granted approval for the second X-ray laser facility at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, building on the success of the first hard X-ray laser. The new facility will provide improved control over the X-ray beam and enable multiple research groups to work simultaneously.
Researchers have developed a new form of platinum that could make cheaper and more efficient fuel cells. The process, which uses a copper-platinum alloy, reduces the amount of platinum required in fuel cells from 100 grams to just 20 grams, potentially enabling widespread adoption.
Theoretical results suggest that small blocks of matter on a desktop could reveal elusive properties of dark matter particles. Researchers propose using topological insulators to detect the axion, a theoretical particle thought to make up a quarter of the universe.
Researchers found that gamma rays originate closer to one light year from black holes than expected, and the jet curves as it travels away from the black hole. This new understanding of blazar jets requires a rethinking of their structure and poses challenges for theorists trying to construct such jets.
Zhi-Xun Shen, director of SIMES, received the E.O. Lawrence Award for his groundbreaking discoveries and pioneering use of high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission to advance understanding of strongly correlated electron systems.
The Linac Coherent Light Source has embarked on pioneering research in physics, structural biology, energy science, chemistry, and more. Researchers have successfully observed atomic physics phenomena with unprecedented detail, creating stop-action movies of molecules in motion.
Recent work at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory reveals two distinct structures in liquid water: tetrahedral and disordered regions. The researchers discovered that these structures exist in 'clumps' made up to 100 molecules, with the temperature affecting their distribution and density.
Recent simulations by astrophysicists reveal that the first black holes in the universe grew slowly and were deprived of gas, contradicting popular theories. The simulations suggest that these early black holes may have played a more complex role in the formation of supermassive black holes observed today.
The Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory will receive $21.8 million in new funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, enabling the construction of an experimental station for studying matter in extreme conditions at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). The funding also supports upgrades and equip...
Researchers created a detailed computer simulation of early star formation, revealing the existence of twin stars. The simulations showed that these stars provide seeds for next-generation star formation, helping scientists understand how galaxies formed.
Physicists have confirmed the existence of a type of material that enables free flow of electrons across its surface with no loss of energy at room temperatures. The discovery of bismuth telluride as a topological insulator could lead to new applications in spintronics and microchip development.
Theoretical work by SLAC researchers reveals two methods for detecting true muonium's formation and decay in electron-positron accelerators. These methods use relativistic effects to create a stable signature, making observation of the exotic atom feasible. The discovery has the potential to reveal new forms of matter.
A recent gamma-ray burst observed by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope is the most extreme recorded to date, with energies exceeding those of 9,000 ordinary supernovae. The blast's tremendous power and speed make it a significant finding in the field of gamma-ray bursts.
The LCLS X-ray free electron laser will enable breakthrough science and imaging at the atomic scale, with initial funding of $54 million. Construction is set to begin in 2006, with a new center for ultrafast science expected to be operational by 2009.
A new lensless imaging technique has been demonstrated, allowing for direct imaging of ultra-fast changes in the collective behavior of atoms and molecules at the nanoscale. The technique uses coherent X-ray light to achieve 10 times better spatial resolution than current methods.
The Quantum Universe report outlines nine fundamental questions in response to research funding agency requests, focusing on particle physics' role in understanding dark matter, dark energy, and more. The report emphasizes new knowledge from particle physics is needed to answer exciting scientific questions of this century.