The Australian Synchrotron has rapidly become an essential tool for research groups around Australia and New Zealand, but none more so than CSIRO’s Materials for Energy, Water and the Environment group.

Sunscreens, plastics and paints often contain zinc oxide nanoparticles, which protect skin and other surfaces from harmful ultraviolet rays. The advantage of nanoparticles is that we can’t see them on our skin, unlike larger particles that appear white.

In response to recent claims that nanoparticles of zinc oxide could increase the risk of sunlight damaging the skin if they were absorbed into the skin, Australian researchers are using synchrotron techniques to explore the detailed toxicology and reactivity of zinc oxide.

A collaboration between Monash University, the University of Technology Sydney, and the University of Queensland has laid the foundations for a new class of antimalarial drugs, with the help of the high-throughput protein crystallography beamline at the Australian Synchrotron.

Thanks to iconic actress Marilyn Monroe in the 1953 film classic 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes', it's common knowledge that diamonds are a girl's best friend.

In the interests of international scientific advancement, synchrotron celebrity Dr X-ray Ted recently shared some of his most valuable professional secrets in an exclusive Lightspeed interview obtained through his manager Nicola Scarlett from CSIRO Minerals in Clayton.

Australian scientists have helped resolve a geological controversy surrounding a rare type of ancient volcanic rock. The findings have led to valuable new insights into the Earth's early geological processes.

Prof Michael Cortie from the University of Technology Sydney has been fascinated by gold-copper-aluminium based shape memory alloys for 15 years, but it wasn't until he came to the powder diffraction beamline at the Australian Synchrotron that he discovered the true nature of the alloy's structure and transformations.

Queensland company Mesaplexx is using the Australian Synchrotron to develop the next generation of microwave filters for improved mobile phone signal quality and data bandwidth.

The honour of solving the first new protein structure on the PX2 (protein microcrystal beamline) has been claimed by a team from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research.

Better chips and faster! Not from your local fast food outlet, but for your computer.

Researchers from The University of Queensland are using the Australian Synchrotron to test new chip production methods.