A collaborative work between MAX IV and Paul Scherrer Institute researchers investigated a setup to conduct serial and time-resolved macromolecular crystallography at MAX IV. The experiment shows that the setup, based on JUNGFRAU detector and Jungfraujoch data-acquisition system, can provide a molecular moving picture of up to 500 microseconds in resolution of protein dynamics – providing ten times finer details than the previously available method. The setup is in the works to be made available at MicroMAX beamline.
One step towards prevention of diabetes linked substance produced by the human gut microbiota – first user experiment at MicroMAX
The team at the Novo Nordisk Foundation funded life science beamline MicroMAX welcomed the first users in December 2023. In the experiment the users investigated an enzyme that may be found in some bacteria of human gut microbiota and may have a role in the development of diabetes and other diseases.
XRM 2024 Conference — Call for Abstracts now open!
The 16th international conference on X-Ray Microscopy, XRM, will take place 12-16 August in Lund, Sweden. Conference host MAX IV Laboratory warmly welcomes participants to an engaging programme, featuring plenary and parallel sessions, poster presentations, and inspiring keynotes, including from special guests speakers Stefan Hell, Nobel Prize laureate in Chemistry 2014 and Anne L’Hullier, Nobel Prize laureate in Physics 2023.
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
Dear Users and Friends of MAX IV MAX IV extends our warmest wishes to each of you. This year has been filled with challenges and significant achievements, and none of it would have been possible without your support and engagement. Despite our financial difficulties, we have committed to remain open for business 2024. Looking forward
Targeting weaknesses in quick clays with X-ray data
Recent landslides in Scandinavia linked to quick clays in the underlying soil have caused major damage to societal infrastructure and even loss of life. In urban areas in particular, quick clays can pose a significant hazard when disturbed. Research on the clay material structure holds promise to understand why quick clay soils can collapse without warning, and in connection, provide valuable insight for improved planning of buildings, roads, and bridges as well as public safety measures. New techniques for the study of quick clays include small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) available at MAX IV’s CoSAXS beamline, and full-field tomographic imaging and small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SWAXS) at ForMAX beamline.
Insights into soot emissions with a newly developed Aerosol Sample Delivery System at MAX IV
A newly developed sample delivery system at MAX IV lets researchers study the properties of aerosol particles. With this knowledge, they can further understand the health and climate effects of soot from burning fuels for transportation or natural emissions.
Conceptual design for three potential new beamlines developed with WISE
After successfully bringing the first 16 funded beamlines into operation, we now look into the future. In collaboration with the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE), funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and together with the scientific community, MAX IV will develop the conceptual designs for three potential new materials science beamlines.
A cloudy route for shipping in the Arctic
The melting of polar ice due to climate change will open global shipping routes through the Arctic in summer by mid-century, according to experts. More ships in the remote area means greater pollution impacts on the marine ecosystem. What will these impacts look like? In a first commissioning experiment at MAX IV’s SoftiMAX beamline, Swedish researchers analysed the cloud-forming abilities of particle exhaust from ships using low-sulphate fuels as well as high-sulphate fuels conditioned with wet scrubbers. Their findings indicate the fuel types produce different, but unintended effects on particle emissions and therefore, our atmosphere.
Combination of techniques for effective pharmaceutical formulation
The environment in your gastrointestinal tract affects the properties and effectiveness of medicines. Researchers have used MAX IV to investigate a technique for studying these changes. They found that the structural properties of the anti-inflammatory drug Indomethacin changed in the presence of common biomolecules.
MAX IV’s role in the Government’s Research Bill
By the end of October, Lund University submitted its input to the Government’s proposed research and innovation politics. The contribution included input from MAX IV. In general, various actors mention MAX IV in their proposals to the Government’s research bill, emphasising the role of large-scale research infrastructures in reaching the research policy goals.