Solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are a promising path toward the “clean” conversion of chemical energy to electrical energy with little or no carbon dioxide emission. With the help of the ALS, researchers from MIT recently found a way to treat SOFC cathode surfaces so that they perform better and last longer. Read more »
ALSNews Vol. 376
SEPTEMBER 14, 2016
Molecular Switch Triggers Bacterial Pathogenicity
Using an array of high-powered x-ray imaging techniques at the ALS, scientists have revealed for the first time the molecular steps that turn on bacteria’s pathogenic genes. The study could open up new avenues in the development of drugs to prevent or treat bacterial infection. Read more »
ALS Beamstop Device an R&D 100 Finalist
A beamstop device recently developed at the ALS has successfully combined two essential crystallographic functions–capturing the damaging portion of the beam while simultaneously monitoring its intensity–into a single miniaturized package. The technology has been licensed and launched commercially and is also a finalist for an R&D 100 Award. Read more »
ALS Engineers Resolve Power Supply Failure, Bring ALS Back Online
On Thursday, July 28, the power supply to the ALS booster bend magnets failed. Over the course of nearly six days, more than 20 ALS staff worked long hours to resolve the failure and get the ALS back online. Read more »
Andreas Scholl, Senior Staff Scientist and ESG Deputy
Andreas Scholl recently became a senior staff scientist, a job title that he sees not necessarily as indicative of a different job, but rather of the gradual change in his responsibilities over his 18 years at the ALS. Read more »
ALS Brightness Improvement Team wins DOE Achievement Award
Members of the ALS Brightness Improvement Team have been recognized by the Department of Energy with a prestigious Secretary of Energy Achievement Award. This distinction follows the team’s receipt last December of a Berkeley Lab Director’s Award for Exceptional Scientific Achievement. Read more »
Reminder: Early Registration for 2016 ALS User Meeting Ends Sept. 19
Discounted early registration ends Monday, September 19, for the 2016 ALS User Meeting, which will take place October 3-5. To register, view the draft agenda and logistical information, and learn how to nominate colleagues for scientific, technical, and user support awards, visit the User Meeting webpage. Read more »
ALS Users’ Executive Committee Update
The ALS UEC met last week to discuss the upcoming User Meeting, solicitation of new UEC members, and the pending update for the ALS UEC website. Read more »
Shedding Light on Postdocs
Postdocs are a significant portion of Berkeley Lab’s workforce, and the same is true at the ALS, where 42 postdocs are currently employed by or receiving a stipend from the ALS. To provide a forum and resources for this large contingent at the Lab, the Berkeley Lab Postdoc Association (BLPA) was recently established by a small group of postdocs. Read more »
Around the ALS in Photos: Plant-a-thon!
To resolve open questions about plant plumbing–how plants transport water from roots through stems and how they respond to stresses such as drought–science teams from around the world met September 1-3 at the ALS for an intensive round of x-ray and other experiments. See photos of the event in our photo essay. Read more »