Using multimodal, in situ measurements at the ALS, researchers uncovered a two-stage process for how stretchable polymer semiconductors adapt their structure during stretching. The findings establish a multiscale design framework for conjugated polymers used in stretchable electronic devices. Read more »
Submit Your 2026 User Meeting Award Nominations
Help us recognize members of the ALS community by submitting nominations for the Shirley Award, Halbach Award, Renner Award, and the Early Career Award. Deadline: May 29 Read more »
How Wildfires Transform Soil Chemistry
X-ray microscopy tools at the ALS and SSRL mapped the chemical changes inside wildfire ash particles, revealing that pyrogenic iron and manganese gradually disappeared as the soil recovered. These findings shed light on how wildfires drive transient mineral formation that impacts micronutrient cycling and soil resilience, with implications for landscape recovery strategies. Read more »
Apply by April 30 for ALS Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships
Applications for the next round of ALS Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships are due April 30 for start dates this fall. Fellows spend a year in residence at the ALS conducting research and instrumentation development in collaboration with their home institution. Updated application instructions will be posted by April 6. Read more »
Strength in Numbers: Nanopatterns Amplify X-Ray Signals from Buried Interfaces
Berkeley Lab researchers developed a new x-ray technique that uses nanoscale patterns to amplify weak signals, allowing scientists to observe chemical reactions at buried solid–liquid interfaces that were previously challenging to study. Read more »
Call for 2024 and 2025 Publications
All publications resulting from work done in whole or in part at the ALS must be recorded by the User Office for the Department of Energy (DOE). To maintain accurate records and assess the productivity and scientific achievements of our beamlines, please report your ALS publications, especially those published in 2024 and 2025. Read more »
Highlights from the 2025 ALS User Meeting
This year’s ALS User Meeting brought a new energy of inspiration and envisioning of a future to come, with old traditions as well as new insights into using machine learning in experimentation. Read more »
Celebrating the Legacy and Future of Electron Spectroscopy: Highlights from ICESS 2025
The 2025 ICESS conference brought together global experts in electron spectroscopy, emphasizing interdisciplinary research, early career engagement, and collaboration. Hosted in Berkeley and led by the ALS, it featured plenary and invited talks, poster sessions, and networking events, highlighting innovations and future directions in the field. Read more »
ALS in the News (July 2025)
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- Expert Interview: Dimitri Argyriou
- Uncovering and Controlling Electron Charge Waves in Quantum Materials
- Confirmed by science—an unexpected finding in farm fields reveals the enormous potential of agricultural land to combat global warming
- Startup aims to shrink particle accelerators to transform semiconductor manufacturing
Changes to Proposals for January–July 2026
The ALS-U project is evaluating a potential schedule shift, including a shutdown for dark time starting summer 2026. Since an earlier dark time is possible, our goal is to ensure active proposals receive needed beamtime and make beamtime requests accessible when possible. Learn more about the September proposal cycle changes. For any questions, contact alsproposals@lbl.gov. Read more »