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ALSNews Vol. 458

May 1, 2024

Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixing Microbe Evolves into Organelle

Researchers found that a symbiont capable of fixing nitrogen (turning it into a biologically usable form) has evolved into an organelle—an intrinsic part of the algae cells that host it. The discovery is of great interest for understanding organelle genesis and for efforts to engineer agricultural plants with built-in nitrogen-fixing capabilities. Read more »PPT-icon-35 PDF-icon-35

Mechanics of a Floating Molecular Layer for CO2 Reduction

Researchers discovered how a layer of organic molecules on a nanoparticle surface detaches to create a highly catalytic pocket for reducing CO2 to CO. The ability to probe molecular-scale events under realistic conditions with nanometer resolution will help guide the design of responsive systems for a wide range of applications, from medicine to optoelectronics. Read more »PPT-icon-35 PDF-icon-35

Surtsey Volcano: A Rare Window into Earth’s Oceanic Crust

Surtsey, a very young oceanic island in Iceland, emerged through explosive volcanic activity in 1963. Utilizing various techniques, including x-ray microdiffraction at the ALS, researchers gained unique insights into the transformation of volcanic glass to form mineral cements in the basaltic rock of underwater volcanoes. Read more »

Pacific Kelp Forests Are Far Older than We Thought

Researchers scanned newly discovered kelp fossils using x-ray tomography at the ALS. The images provided morphological information about the ancient kelp and, along with isotopic analyses, provided insights into the evolutionary history of northeastern Pacific Ocean kelp forests, which flourished more than 32 million years ago. Read more »

Jillian Hiu, Mechanical Engineering Associate

Growing up in San Jose, Jillian Hiu heard about Berkeley Lab. Now, she’s part of the research mission here, working on components for the QERLIN beamline. Find out how she combines science and art, and how her pet surprised her. Read more »

Vote: ALS Users’ Association Charter Change

The UEC is recommending establishing an ALS Early Career Award, to be presented for the first time at the upcoming User Meeting, to recognize significant scientific contributions from early-career investigators who have performed original and independent research at the ALS. To institute this award, a change must be made to the users’ association charter. Read more »