The mission of SEES (Synchrotron Earth and Environmental Science) is to advance research and education in synchrotron-based Earth and environmental science to better understand our planet from the atmosphere to the core, to address societally relevant problems, and to train the next generation of scientists. SEES is responsible for the management, operation, and development of multiple user facilities hosted at four DOE-operated US synchrotrons: Advanced Photon Source (APS), Advanced Light Source (ALS), National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II), and Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL).
2025 SEES-ISRD Joint Meeting
SEES and ISRD invite you to attend our annual meeting to be held jointly at the University of Chicago on August 11-13, 2025. Keynote speakers will discuss topics in rock and mineral deformation and rheological properties in Earth, and there will be a poster session with a broad scientific focus. All SEES and ISRD researchers are welcome and encouraged to attend. Click here to learn more.
Recent Publications
Exciton-phonon coupling and phonon-assisted exciton relaxation dynamics in In1-xGaxP quantum dots
Li, B.C., Lin, K., Wu, PJ.E. et al. Exciton-phonon coupling and phonon-assisted exciton relaxation dynamics in In1-xGaxP quantum dots. Nat Commun 16, 4424 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58800-8
Structure of ice VII with Hirshfeld atom refinement
Gajda, R., Chodkiewicz, M., Zhang, D., Nguyen, P., Prakapenka, V. & Wozniak, K., Structure of ice VII with Hirshfeld atom refinement, (2025). IUCrJ, 12. https://doi.org/10.1107/S2052252525002581
Influence of Pore Water on the Fracture of Silica Sand at Particle Scale
Safi, Mohammad, Khalid A. Alshibli, and Haochen Li. “Influence of Pore Water on the Fracture of Silica Sand at Particle Scale.” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 151, no. 7 (2025): 04025055.
In Situ Diffraction and Ex Situ Transmission X-Ray Microscopy Studies of Solid-State Upcycling for NMC Cathodes
Nisbet, Matthew L., Diana Luong, Eva Allen, Sohyun Park, Tiffany L. Kinnibrugh, Joanne E. Stubbs, Peter J. Eng, John T. Vaughey, and Tim T. Fister. “In Situ Diffraction and Ex Situ Transmission X‐Ray Microscopy Studies of Solid‐State Upcycling for NMC Cathodes.” Advanced Energy Materials (2025): 2500698.
Belowground plant carbon and nitrogen exchange: plant-derived carbon inputs and pore structure formation
Jin Ho Lee, Tayler C. Ulbrich, Maxwell Oerther, Yakov Kuzyakov, Andrey K. Guber, Alexandra N. Kravchenko, Belowground plant carbon and nitrogen exchange: plant-derived carbon inputs and pore structure formation, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Volume 207, 2025, 109833, ISSN 0038-0717, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.109833.
Superconducting dome and structural changes in LaRu3Si2 under pressure
Li, Zhuoqi, Shuyuan Huyan, Elizabeth C. Thompson, Tyler J. Slade, Dongzhou Zhang, Young J. Ryu, Wenli Bi, Sergey L. Bud’ko, and Paul C. Canfield. “Superconducting dome and structural changes in LaRu. Phys. Rev B, 111, 144505 (2025), DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.111.144505
Science Highlights
Structure of ice VII with Hirshfeld atom refinement
Gajda, R., Chodkiewicz, M., Zhang, D., Nguyen, P., Prakapenka, V. & Wozniak, K., Structure of ice VII with Hirshfeld atom refinement, (2025). IUCrJ, 12. https://doi.org/10.1107/S2052252525002581
Belowground plant carbon and nitrogen exchange: plant-derived carbon inputs and pore structure formation
Jin Ho Lee, Tayler C. Ulbrich, Maxwell Oerther, Yakov Kuzyakov, Andrey K. Guber, Alexandra N. Kravchenko, Belowground plant carbon and nitrogen exchange: plant-derived carbon inputs and pore structure formation, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Volume 207, 2025, 109833, ISSN 0038-0717, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.109833.
Equilibrium Silicon Isotope Fractionation in Eclogites and Granites Constrained by Single Crystal X‐Ray Diffraction and the Force Constants Approach
Zhang, Dongzhou, Jingui Xu, Przemyslaw K. Dera, Bin Chen, and Ming Chen. “Equilibrium silicon isotope fractionation in eclogites and granites constrained by single crystal X‐ray diffraction and the force constants approach.” Geophysical Research Letters 52, no. 8 (2025): e2023GL107954.
The role of dissolved sulfide in controlling copper speciation in basaltic melts
Antonio Lanzirotti, Michelle Muth, Elisabet Head, Matthew Newville, Molly McCanta, Paul J. Wallace, Zoltan Zajacz, The role of dissolved sulfide in controlling copper speciation in basaltic melts, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Volume 395, 2025, Pages 181-194, ISSN 0016-7037, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2025.02.037.
Unusual sulfide-rich magmatic apatite crystals from >2.7 Ga Abitibi Greenstone Belt, Canada
Meng, Xuyang, David R. Mole, Adam C. Simon, Jingwen Mao, Daniel J. Kontak, Pedro J. Jugo, and Jackie M. Kleinsasser. “Unusual sulfide-rich magmatic apatite crystals from > 2.7 Ga Abitibi Greenstone Belt, Canada.” American Mineralogist 110, no. 4 (2025): 622-629.
Formation of the 15 Å phase as the most expanded hydrated mineral in cold subduction zone
Bang, Y., Kim, J., Choi, J. et al. Formation of the 15 Å phase as the most expanded hydrated mineral in cold subduction zone. Nat Commun 16, 2279 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56672-6
Latest Happenings
The SEES community congratulates Andy Campbell, SEES Director, for his award of the Arthur L. Kelly Faculty Prize for Exceptional Service in the Physical Sciences Division, University of Chicago
As announced by Ka Yee C. Lee, Interim Dean, Physical Sciences Division, The University of Chicago...
Students from Northeastern Illinois University participated in the eBERlight project at 13 IDE, March 2025, investigating copper toxicity in sugar beet plants.
Students from Metea Valley High School participated remotely, investigating arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth of herbs in the presence of excess copper, 13 IDE, March 2025.
Synchrotron Environmental Science (SES-2025) Symposium
The Synchrotron Environmental Science (SES) Symposium will be held at Stony Brook University from...