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
Numerical Investigation Into Mechanical Behavior ofMetastable Olivine During Phase Transformation: Implications for Deep‐Focus Earthquakes
Sindhusuta, S., Chi, S.‐W., Foster, C., Officer, T., & Wang, Y. (2025). Numerical investigation into mechanical behavior of metastable olivine during phase transformation: Implications for deep-focus earthquakes. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 130, e2024JB030557. https://doi.org/10.1029/ 2024JB030557
Nonlinearity of the post-spinel transition and its expression in slabs and plumes worldwide
Dong, J., Fischer, R.A., Stixrude, L.P. et al. Nonlinearity of the post-spinel transition and its expression in slabs and plumes worldwide. Nat Commun 16, 1039 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56231-z
Mobility of cobalt in mine waste: Evidence from a historic silver mining district in Canada
Melissa A.H. Turcotte, Heather E. Jamieson, Michael B. Parsons, Mobility of cobalt in mine waste: Evidence from a historic silver mining district in Canada, Applied Geochemistry, Volume 181, 2025, 106296, ISSN 0883-2927, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2025.106296.
Thorite: An Oddity in Phase Stability Amongst the Zircon-Structured Orthosilicates at High Pressures
Strzelecki, Andrew C., Jason L. Baker, Stella Chariton, Xiaodong Zhao, Vitali Prakapenka, David Bollinger, Sohan Ahmed et al. “Thorite: An Oddity in Phase Stability Amongst the Zircon-Structured Orthosilicates at High Pressures.” American Mineralogist (2025).
High Pressure Synthesis & Superconductivity of Ytterbium Polyhydrides
Zhiwen Li, Xin He, Changling Zhang, Ke Lu, Jun Zhang, Sijia Zhang, Jianfa Zhao, Luchuan Shi, Yi Peng, Shaomin Feng, Zheng Deng, Qingqing Liu, Xiancheng Wang, Luhong Wang, Vitali Prakapenka, Stella Chariton, Haozhe Liu, Changqing Jin, “High Pressure Synthesis & Superconductivity of Ytterbium Polyhydrides,” Chinese Phys. Lett. 42 (4), 047401 (2025). DOI: 10.1088/0256-307X/42/4/047401
Strength, deformation, and the fcc–hcp phase transition in condensed Kr and Xe to the 100 GPa pressure range
B. L. Brugman, M. Lv, J. Liu, E. Greenberg, V. B. Prakapenka, D. Y. Popov, C. Park, S. M. Dorfman; Strength, deformation, and the fcc–hcp phase transition in condensed Kr and Xe to the 100 GPa pressure range. J. Appl. Phys. 7 February 2025; 137 (5): 055109. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0254842
Science Highlights
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Latest Happenings
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...

Matt Whitaker Presents a Science Short for NSLS-II
Matt Whitaker presents his talk titled “Metals Under Pressure” at NSLS-II, Brookhaven National Lab.

Goldschmidt Conference 2024
GSECARS has organized an exciting session at the Goldschmidt Conference 2024 in Chicago entitled “2b – Deep planetary interiors: new experimental and analytical approaches “.

High Pressure Synthesis Using the PE Cell at GSECARS 13IDC
GSE scientist Tony Yu hosted students from Hanyang University and Pusan National University researching “High Pressure Synthesis Using the PE Cell”.