Researchers performing resonant soft x-ray scattering on polymer/fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells at ALS Beamline 11.0.1 have uncovered what makes these organic photovoltaics some of the most promising technologies for next-generation solar energy conversion.

Using three ALS beamlines, researchers have determined the structure of AgBIS, a three-domain plant sesquiterpene synthase that is a biosynthetic precursor to an advanced biofuel with physico-chemical properties similar to D2 diesel.

"Criegee intermediates" are elusive molecules that play a pivotal role in atmospheric chemistry and are also byproducts of key combustion reactions. At the Chemical Dynamics beamline, the reaction rates of one form of Criegee intermediate was directly measured for the first time, with some surprising results.

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Among the legions of proteins required for DNA replication, the “flap endonuclease” FEN1 plays a key role. An international team of scientists working at the SIBYLS Beamline has now solved the structure of human FEN1 bound to DNA, revealing the surprising mechanism behind its speed, accuracy, and versatility.