A technique newly available at the ALS has enabled the discovery of a surprising key event in photosynthetic systems. A protein shifting from an “orange” light-absorbing state to a “red” photoprotective state turns out to be an unanticipated molecular priming event in photoprotection. Read more »
Narrowly Distributed Crystal Orientation in Biomineral Vaterite
The cover shows a scanning electron micrograph of vaterite crystals formed by the sea squirt Herdmania momus. These are the largest single crystals of vaterite ever observed, including biogenic, geologic or synthetic vaterite. Flat crystal faces are uncommon in biogenic crystals, but these crystals are clearly hexagonal pyramids. Pokroy et al. show that these crystals have smooth fracture surfaces; thus, they most likely formed ion-by-ion, rather than by attachment of particles. Narrowly distributed orientations and lack of organics at crystal interfaces suggest a new mechanism of biomineral crystal growth, perhaps spherulitic growth from solution. Read more »
Tracking the Elusive QOOH Radical
For the first time, researchers directly observed QOOH molecules, a class of highly reactive molecules at the center of the web of ignition chemistry reactions. The data generated will improve the fidelity of combustion models used to create cleaner and more efficient cars and trucks. Read more » 
ALS Postdoc Recognized for Outstanding Thesis
Søren Ulstrup, an ALS postdoc who received his Ph.D. from Aarhus University in Denmark last year, was selected by the Aarhus University Research Foundation as one of five promising young scientists to receive its prize for outstanding doctoral thesis. Watch a video of Søren describing his thesis, “A Direct Study of the Electronic Structure of Graphene.” Read more »
ALSNews Vol. 364
ALSNews Monthly Newsletter of the Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Spectroscopy of Supercapacitor Electrodes in Operando X-ray spectroscopy of graphene supercapacitor electrodes under operating conditions reveals changes in electronic structure and bonding. The research could lead to an improvement in the capacity and efficiency of electrical energy storage systems needed to meet theRead More Read more »
ALSNews Vol. 363
ALSNews Monthly Newsletter of the Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Peptoid Nanosheets Offer a Diversity of Functionalities Researchers at the ALS have recently observed peptoid nanosheets—two-dimensional biomimetic materials with customizable properties—as they self-assemble at an oil-water interface. This new development opens the door to designing peptoid nanosheets of increasing structural complexity and chemicalRead More Read more »
ALSNews Vol. 362
ALSNews Monthly Newsletter of the Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Protein Instability and Lou Gehrig’s Disease A new study uses small-angle x-ray scattering as well as several advanced biophysical techniques to link protein instability to the progression of a lethal degenerative disease: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. ReadRead More Read more »
ALSNews Vol. 361
ALSNews Monthly Newsletter of the Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory In Situ X-Ray Scattering Helps Optimize Printed Solar Cells Printable plastic solar cells are a potential source of inexpensive renewable energy, but the transition from lab to factory results in decreased efficiency. Now, for the first time, a miniature solar-cell printer installed inRead More Read more »
ALSNews Vol. 360
ALSNews Monthly Newsletter of the Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory ALS Director’s Update: Reflections on Our Past, Present, and Future We are looking forward to an exciting and productive year at the ALS, with plans for new beamlines and capabilities coming online, and more users taking advantage of our technical and scientific expertiseRead More Read more »
ALSNews Vol. 359
ALSNews Monthly Newsletter of the Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory From CO2 to Methanol via Novel Nanocatalysts Researchers have found novel nanocatalysts that lower the barrier to converting carbon dioxide—an abundant greenhouse gas—into methanol—a key commodity used to produce numerous industrial chemicals and fuels. In one case, it worked almost 90 times fasterRead More Read more »