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
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
High P-T Single-Crystal Elasticity of Zircon by Brillouin Spectroscopy
Arlacee Luu, Wen-Yi Zhou, Xin Zhong, Ming Hao, Przemyslaw Dera, Jin S. Zhang; High P–T Single-Crystal Elasticity of Zircon by Brillouin Spectroscopy. American Mineralogist 2025
Science Highlights
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Latest Happenings

Data Formats for XAS Data: progress toward better, larger, XAS Database
Matthew Newville gave a keynote talk at the ESRF User Meeting, Grenoble, France, Feb 8, 2024 and also gave a hybrid presentation at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology for the DAPHNE4NDFI Project, Karlsruhe, Germany Feb 14, 2024

Using Synchrotron X-rays for Geology and More
Matthew Newville gave a talk at Lawrence University Physics seminar, Appleton, WI Feb 1, 2024

Pressure induced phase transition in organic inorganic hybrid perovskites at GSECARS Raman Lab
GSECARS welcomed students from Pusan National University & Hanyang University to work with GSE scientist Young Jay Ryu on “Pressure induced phase transition in organic inorganic hybrid perovskites” in the GSE Raman Lab.
SEES Webinar: “SEES the Light”
SEES Director Andy Campbell hosted a public webinar to introduce the organization, its current...