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2023 Summer Shutdown Recap

The ALS is back in user operations after a 12-week summer shutdown. Most of the shutdown work centered around ALS-U tasks, including installing a full arc sector of the accumulator ring. Read more »

HyMARC Aims to Hit Targets for Hydrogen Storage Using X-Ray Science

Understanding how materials absorb and release hydrogen is the focus of the Hydrogen Materials Advanced Research Consortium (HyMARC). At the ALS, the HyMARC Approved Program was recently renewed, underscoring the key role that soft x-ray techniques have played in addressing the challenges of hydrogen storage. Read more »

2023 ALS User Meeting Returned On-Site to Focus on the Future

For the first time in four years, users, staff, and other members of the scientific community gathered in person for the ALS User Meeting. With a new ALS director in place, the 30th anniversary of first light a month away, and ALS-U construction well underway, the occasion was primed to discuss the long-term future of the facility. Read more »

Lori Tamura Receives 2023 Tim Renner User Services Award

After 25 years of science writing at the ALS, Lori Tamura has a tried and true method for clearly communicating complex scientific concepts. With her care and skill, she has increased the impact and reach of results from ALS work, and the UEC has recognized that impact with the 2023 Tim Renner User Services Award. Read more »

Will Chueh to Receive the 2023 Shirley Award

Will Chueh of Stanford University is the 2023 winner of the Shirley award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement at the ALS. His selection recognizes Chueh’s deep contributions in operando soft x-ray spectromicroscopy for imaging electrochemical redox phenomena—images and movies for battery and electrocatalytic reactions. Read more »

How Scientists Are Accelerating Next-Gen Microelectronics

A new center, called CHiPPS—or the Center for High Precision Patterning Science—led by Berkeley Lab microelectronics expert Ricardo Ruiz, could accelerate the next revolution in microchips, the tiny silicon components used in everything from smartphones to smart speakers, life-saving medical devices, and electric cars. Read more »

ALS Work on Roman Concrete Highlighted in German-French Documentary

A study on the remarkable durability of 2000-year old Roman concrete, by ALS user Marie Jackson with ALS beamline scientist Nobumichi Tamura, was recently highlighted in “Miracle Materials,” a science documentary produced by a German-French company, Gruppe 5, for airing on the Eurpean public service channel, ARTE. Read more »

Catching up with ASPIRES Interns from 2022 and 2023

The ASPIRES program is a 10-week paid internship matching undergraduate students from California State East Bay with mentors in Berkeley Lab’s Energy Sciences Area. We caught up with some of the ASPIRES interns from 2022 and 2023 to hear about their internship experience and what they’re working on! Read more »

Beamline Optics and Modeling School (BLOMS) 2023

The ALS hosted its first Beamline Optics and Modeling School (BLOMS 2023), a three-day, hands-on workshop to teach the theory, methods, strategy, and tools used to design and model x-ray beamlines. Experts from four other light sources and one private company showed students the capabilities of modern, freely available tools for x-ray source and beamline modeling. Read more »