FIRST ATOMIC-SCALE MOVIE OF MICROTUBULES UNDER CONSTRUCTION, A KEY PROCESS FOR CELL DIVISION

Researchers at the CNIO, the CRG and the IBMB-CSIC solve a key problem in biology: how human cells build their microtubules. During cell division, microtubules are responsible of distributing the genetic material to each daughter cell. Sample preparation and microtubules high-resolution image acquisition were performed at the IBMB-CSIC’s Electron Cryomicroscopy Platform, located at the Joint Electron Microscopy Center (JEMCA), inside the ALBA Synchrotron. The work published in Science lays the groundwork for future breakthroughs in the treatment of diseases ranging from cancer to neurodevelopmental disorders.

Read more…

GREEN CHEMISTRY: MOLECULAR ELUCIDATION OF CO2 METHANATION OVER A PEROVSKITE-DERIVED CATALYST

A research lead by the University of the Basque Country, in collaboration with the University of Alicante and the ALBA Synchrotron, has combined for the first time NAP-XPS experiments at CIRCE beamline of ALBA with in situ FTIR experiments to establish a complete reaction scheme for CO2 methanation over novel catalyst. Methanation is the conversion of CO2 to methane, which can be recycled for use as a fuel or a chemical as well as by contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions.

Read more…

PROMISING RESULTS IN CATALYSIS DEMONSTRATE THE POTENTIAL OF THE NEW 3Sbar BEAMLINE

Researchers from Stockholm University, ALBA, and DESY have determined the chemical state of ammonia catalyst during the reaction for the first time. These results, partially obtained at the DESY light source in Germany, show the huge potential of the 3Sbar beamline currently under construction at the ALBA Synchrotron.

Read more…

RESEARCHERS UNVEIL THE STRUCTURE OF ONE OF THE CELLULAR MACHINERIES FOR PROTEIN RECYCLING

A multidisciplinary research team lead by researchers from CIC bioGUNE has revealed the structure of one of the cellular machineries for protein recycling. This machinery is responsible for transporting and reusing over 60 different proteins. Experiments carried out at the XALOC beamline of the ALBA Synchrotron enabled the understanding of the protein recycling process at an atomic level.

Read more…

FIRST OPERANDO BATTERY CHARACTERIZATION EXPERIMENT PERFORMED AT MIRAS

A research team lead by the Institut de Ciències de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC) has published a new study on polyimides, a promising material for cathodes in metal-organic batteries, a more sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries. Operando measurements were performed, for the first time, at the MIRAS beamline.

Read more…