Dimitri Argyriou, an accomplished physicist and Associate Director for In-Kind Management at the European Spallation Source, has been selected to serve as the next director of the Advanced Light Source. His appointment is expected to begin this June. The announcement follows an international search. Read more »
ALSNews Vol. 446
March 29, 2023
Imaging Topological Magnetic Monopoles in 3D
Researchers created topologically stable magnetic monopoles and imaged them in 3D with unprecedented spatial resolution using a technique developed at the ALS. The work enables the study of magnetic monopole behavior for both fundamental interest and potential use in information storage and transport applications. Read more »
Chatbot-Style AI Designs Novel Functional Protein
Researchers used an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm, similar to those used in natural-language (“chatbot”) models, to design a functional protein that was then structurally validated at the ALS. The work could speed the development of novel proteins for almost anything from therapeutics to degrading plastic. Read more »
Doped Nickelate Enters a New Phase with Spintronics Potential
Rare-earth nickelates are known to undergo a metal-to-insulator phase transition as temperature decreases, the mechanism of which is not well understood. Here, researchers observed a new low-temperature phase that’s both metallic and antiferromagnetic—an unusual combination with potential value in spintronics. Read more »
Extreme Closeup of Copper Electrocatalysts in Action
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have made real-time movies of copper nanoparticles as they evolve to convert carbon dioxide and water into renewable fuels and chemicals. Their new insights could help advance the next generation of solar fuels. Read more »
Gemini Beamline 2.0.1 Banks Its First Protein Structure
A protein structure obtained from ALS Beamline 2.0.1 (“Gemini”) has recently been published in the literature and deposited into the Protein Data Bank (PDB)—two significant firsts for this beamline. The structure helped provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in triggering certain inflammatory diseases. Read more »
ALS User Forum: A Time for Cookies with Colleagues
The place, frequency, and snack selection might have changed over the years, but Cookie Time has always been a way for the ALS community to gather. In its current incarnation, different groups contribute their favorite snacks, and all are welcome to mingle each Thursday at 3 p.m. Read more »
Call for 2022 and 2023 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). Please help ensure our records are complete by reporting your ALS publications, especially those published in 2022 and 2023. Read more »
Submit a Tutorial Proposal for the 2023 User Meeting
The Users’ Executive Committee (UEC) is soliciting tutorial proposals for the 2023 User Meeting, September 11–15, which will be the first in-person/hybrid meeting since 2019. We are so excited to return to the interactions, the vendors, the food, and the views! Tutorials will take place on the 11th, followed by the plenary and poster sessions on the 12th. The second half of the week (13th–15th) will be devoted to visioning workshops about the future of the facility, post-ALS-U. Look out for more information soon! Read more »