A variety of experiments, including ALS x-ray studies, provided direct evidence of a magnetic transition in a 2D compound called a MXene (pronounced “maxene”). The finding adds new functionality to a family of materials with numerous ways to fine-tune properties for applications ranging from spintronic devices to electromagnetic shielding. Read more »
A Detailed Look Inside Tsetse Flies
To better understand the unique reproductive biology of tsetse flies, which are carriers of the parasites that cause a deadly infection known as African sleeping sickness, researchers explored the intact organs and tissues of tsetse flies using a powerful 3D x-ray imaging technique at Berkeley Lab’s Advanced Light Source. Read more »
Materials from Town Hall on Shutdown Schedules Now Available
On January 26, the ALS held a town hall on the schedule for upcoming long shutdowns. The event provided up-to-date information on the schedule, explained the motivations behind decisions, and discussed principles and strategies for future decision-making. Slides and a recording from the event, as well as an FAQs document, are posted to the ALS website. Read more »
Johanna Nelson Weker, Users’ Executive Committee Chair
This year’s Users’ Executive Committee chair first used synchrotrons as a grad student and loved the experience so much she eventually became a beamline scientist at SSRL. She’s excited to work closely with the user community during the ALS Upgrade and is well versed in post-beamtime food options in Berkeley. Read more »
Stacking the Deck for Custom-Built Hybrid Materials
Researchers fabricated an electronically coupled heterostructure from a novel semiconducting 2D polymer and a 2D transition metal dichalcogenide. Dramatic optical and electronic changes emerged as polymer thickness decreased, underscoring the potential for the discovery of emergent phenomena in studies of hybrid heterostructures. Read more »
