A group of Danish researchers have demonstrated three-dimensional sub-micrometre imaging of a whole, multi-millimetre sized, mantis shrimp eye. The eye was chosen to show the imaging opportunities of highly complex biological tissue at a fourth generation synchrotron.
New insights into how nanoparticles move in swirling flows
It’s a morning routine: pour milk into coffee and watch the liquids come together in swirls. The pattern is familiar, but the behavioural patterns driving these swirls are hidden from coffee drinkers.
Children in need inspire a snake antivenom like no other
When venomous snakes in sub-Saharan Africa strike at rural residents, antivenom treatment may come too late or lack efficacy. An international team of scientists took on the challenge to create a more effective medicine for snakebites, and after many years, developed a powerful, broad spectrum nanobody cocktail which both neutralizes the venom in the bloodstream and prevents local tissue damage. Their study reported in Nature includes data from MAX IV’s BioMAX beamline.
Accelerating cancer drug discovery at BioMAX
Supported by advanced structural biology capabilities at MAX IV, Acrivon Therapeutics advanced a novel cancer drug candidate from initial lead identification to clinical development in only 15 months.
Tiny particles hold clues to sustainable aviation fuel
Waste from food production or wood processing can be turned into a biofuel for more sustainable air travel. The raw oil, however, is unstable and difficult to use. A Swedish research team is working on optimising the refining process.
The structural twist of narwhal tooth
Recent research in Nature Communications led by Aarhus University reports on the intriguing life history of narwhals, a species of Arctic marine mammal. The study reveals atomic-level details of the helical structure of the whale tusk. This knowledge of complex tooth construction advances understanding towards potential innovations in materials design.
The liquid tech of self-healing batteries
Materials scientists seek to develop better lithium (Li) metal batteries by improving structural stability and reducing dendrite formation that causes battery failure. It is well-known that instability at the metal electrode-electrolyte interface causes lithium dendrite growth, leading to short-circuiting and formation of inactive lithium. New electrolyte designs that control lithium deposition during cycling may solve these issues. Researchers are investigating liquid crystalline (LC) electrolytes under different conditions at MAX IV’s ForMAX beamline to determine whether these electrolytic materials are possible to align on demand. Successful results hold promise to propel the development of Li metal batteries as a next-generation power solution for electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
Beamline Collaborations through MAX IV’s Shared Postdocs: Firoz Malayil Kalathil
Collaboration with the user community is a core part of MAX IV’s work. One joint initiative is enabled through close interaction with universities, with postdoctoral researchers dividing their time between a university research group and the synchrotron.
High-resolution imaging opens doors for low-power information storage
Electronics built from ferroelectric materials have low power consumption and are well-suited for information storage. Their competitiveness depends on developing novel architectures on the nanoscale. A research team from Lund University and ETH Zurich in Switzerland has used the NanoMAX beamline at MAX IV to image through metal contacts on the ferroelectric material bismuth ferrite to see how they affect the material beneath them.
Beamline Collaborations through MAX IV’s Shared Postdocs: Leonardo Oliveira
Collaboration with the user community is a core part of MAX IV’s work. One joint initiative is enabled through close interaction with universities, with postdoctoral researchers dividing their time between a university research group and the synchrotron.