AMO | Scientists Take First X-ray Portraits of Living Cyanobacteria at the LCLS

Researchers from Uppsala University working at the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have captured the first X-ray portraits of living bacteria, detecting signals from features as small as 4 nanometers, or 4 billionths of a meter.

This milestone sets the stage for X-ray explorations of the molecular machinery at work in viral infections, cell division, photosynthesis and other processes that are important to biology, human health and our environment. The experiment took place at SLAC's Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) X-ray laser, a DOE Office of Science User Facility.

[Telencephelon]

@SLAC Is virtual tomography with this technique out of the question?

[TheDarthsphincter]

I was a bit disappointed at the fact that although they capture living cells, the cells will still disintegrate after one portrait.

[tombenson]

Awesome video, really explains this at a level that the public can understand.  Bravo LCLS.

[ReDefighter]

This is really cool! Keep it up you guys and gals.  =)