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Locking Protein Structure to Close the Door on Cancer

While the SHP2 protein helps regulate cellular activity, mutations in its structure can lead to cancer. X-ray crystallography at the ALS and SSRL has revealed differences between normal and mutated SHP2, as well as how it binds to certain cancer drugs. These structural insights open the door to new types of cancer therapy. Read more »

Forum Reinforces ALS Links to Water-Energy Nexus

About 80 Berkeley Lab scientists gathered at the ALS last week for an “ALS Water-Energy Outreach Forum” to discuss the challenges and opportunities arising from a growing focus on the nexus between water and energy—two resources essential to human populations—and to explore how the ALS can help address key questions in the field. Read more »

Robbie Leftwich-Vann, ALS-U Project Manager

Robbie Leftwich-Vann came to Berkeley Lab with years of experience with NASA and the aviation sector. She is focused on building the infrastructure and setting up the tools for the ALS-U team to succeed—enabling the project to take flight. Read more »

Zahid Hussain Honored with DOE Secretary’s Award

Former ALS Deputy for Scientific Support Zahid Hussain was honored with a Department of Energy Secretary’s Distinguished Service Award. The award is one of the highest scientific honors given by Energy Secretary Rick Perry, recognizing “continuous and distinctive achievements.” Read more »

Update from ALS Director Steve Kevan

Reflecting on my first year as ALS director, I am amazed and proud of several major organizational changes, significant accomplishments, and staff recognitions, though of course there are still many challenges left for the future. Read more »

ALS Hosts 6th International Diffraction-Limited Storage Ring Workshop

Approximately 160 scientists from synchrotron facilities all over the world gathered at Berkeley Lab last fall for the 6th International Diffraction-Limited Storage Ring Workshop. Event participants discussed both the technical challenges and new research opportunities at next-generation x-ray facilities enabled by multibend achromat lattices. Read more »

March 6 Deadline for General User Proposals

The User Office is accepting new General User Proposals (GUPs) from scientists who wish to conduct research at the ALS in the 2019-2 (July–December) cycle. The deadline for submissions is March 6, 2019. Applicants are reminded that they may request joint access to the Molecular Foundry, a nanoscience user facility at Berkeley Lab, to support their ALS activities. Read more »

Electric-Field Switching of Topological Phase

Researchers have successfully switched a topological insulator on and off by applying an electrical field. The work represents a major advancement toward the creation of a functioning topological transistor that would allow devices to operate more efficiently at lower power than conventional electronics. Read more »PPT-icon-35 PDF-icon-35

A Two-Pronged Defense against Bacterial Self-Intoxication

Researchers solved the structure of a bacterial toxin bound to a neutralizing protein, revealing two distinct mechanisms for how the toxin-producing bacteria avoid poisoning themselves. The findings offer clues to the evolutionary origins of the potent toxins that enable bacterial pathogens to cause human diseases such as cholera and diphtheria. Read more »PPT-icon-35 PDF-icon-35