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).
Facility Status and Upcoming Proposal Deadlines
Events Calendar
Recent Publications
Fatemeh Izaditame, Joshua J. LeMonte, Matthew G. Siebecker, Xuan Yu, Matthew Fischel, Ryan Tappero, Donald L. Sparks, Sea−level rise and arsenic−rich soils: A toxic relationship, Journal of Hazardous Materials, Volume 472, 2024, 134528, ISSN 0304-3894
Ashley, A. W., Mookherjee, M., Xu, M., Yu, T., Manthilake, G., & Wang, Y. (2024). Viscosity measurements at high pressures: A critical appraisal of corrections to Stokes’ Law. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 129, e2023JB028489.
Kunz, M., Armstrong, K., Barnard, H. et al. In situ X-ray and IR probes relevant to Earth science at the Advanced Light Source at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. Phys Chem Minerals 51, 15 (2024).
Khandarkhaeva, S., Fedotenko, T., Aslandukova, A. et al. Extending carbon chemistry at high-pressure by synthesis of CaC2 and Ca3C7 with deprotonated polyacene- and para-poly(indenoindene)-like nanoribbons. Nat Commun 15, 2855 (2024).
Matthew Ricks, Arianna E. Gleason, Francesca Miozzi, Hong Yang, Stella Chariton, Vitali B. Prakapenka, Stanislav V. Sinogeikin, Richard L. Sandberg, Wendy L. Mao, Silvia Pandolfi, “Phase transition kinetics revealed by in situ x-ray diffraction in laser-heated dynamic diamond anvil cells,” Phys. Rev. Research 6 (1), 013316 (2024). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevResearch.6.013316
Musfeldt, J. L., Sobhit Singh, Shiyu Fan, Yanhong Gu, Xianghan Xu, S-W. Cheong, Z. Liu, David Vanderbilt, and Karin M. Rabe. “Structural phase purification of bulk HfO2: Y through pressure cycling.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 121, no. 5 (2024): e2312571121.
Science Highlights
Equilibrium Fe isotope fractionation between olivine, pyroxene, spinel and MORB glass: Implications for mantle partial melting to generate MORBs
Nie, Nicole X., Anat Shahar, Peng Ni, Richard W. Carlson, Steven B. Shirey, Corliss K. Sio, Justin Y. Hu et al. “Equilibrium Fe isotope fractionation between olivine, pyroxene, spinel and MORB glass: Implications for mantle partial melting to generate MORBs.” Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta (2025).
Resiliency, morphology, and entropic transformations in high-entropy oxide nanoribbons
Hessam Shahbazi et al., Resiliency, morphology, and entropic transformations in high-entropy oxide nanoribbons. Science 388, 950-956 (2025). DOI: 10.1126/science.adr5604
Direct observations of transient weakening during phase transformations in quartz and olivine
Cross, A.J., Goddard, R.M., Kumamoto, K.M. et al. Direct observations of transient weakening during phase transformations in quartz and olivine. Nat. Geosci. 18, 548–554 (2025).
The origin of vertebrate teeth and evolution of sensory exoskeletons
Haridy, Y., Norris, S.C.P., Fabbri, M. et al. The origin of vertebrate teeth and evolution of sensory exoskeletons. Nature 642, 119–124 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-08944-w Link to Article | Link to UChicago News</please let >
Deformation of Hydrous Phases Egg [AlSiO3(OH)], δ [AlO(OH)] and Stishovite [Si1-nH4nO2] Relevant to Anisotropy of the Earth’s Mantle
Kattemalavadi, A., Devoe, M., & Wenk, H.-R. (2025). Deformation of hydrous phases Egg [AlSiO3(OH)], δ [AlO(OH)] and stishovite [Si1-nH4nO2] relevant to anisotropy of the Earth’s mantle. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 130, e2025JB031362. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JB031362
Volatiles and Redox Along the East African Rift
Brounce, M., Scoggins, S., Fischer, T. P., Ford, H., & Byrnes, J. (2024). Volatiles and redox along the East African Rift. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 25, e2024GC011657.
Workshops
Upcoming New Soft X-ray Nanoscale Imaging and Spectromicroscopy Capabilities at NSLS-II
The Soft X-ray Nanoprobe (SXN) beamline, a new beamline under construction at NSLS-II, will offer researchers state-of-the-art soft X-ray nano-imaging and spectroscopy capabilities with world-leading coherent high photon flux in the energy range from 250 eV – 2500 eV. This two half-day workshop aims to bring experienced X-ray microscopy users,
Latest Happenings
SEES Booth at GSA Conference
SEES had an exhibition booth at the GSA conference in Anaheim this year. Joanne Stubbs (Beamline Scientist and Facility Director at APS) stopped by to say hello to Andy Campbell and Emily Padston from the Central Office. Joanne also co-chaired a session with Athena Chen (ORNL) and Cara Santelli (UMN)
South Side Science Festival 2024
GSE scientists Tim Officer and Stella Chariton get ready for the South Side Science Festival, Oct 5th