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
Magma sources, crustal storage depths, and degassing of alkalic, CO2-rich magmas at Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira Volcanoes, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Connors, Lissie, Paul J. Wallace, Kenneth WW Sims, D. Matthew Sublett Jr, and Robert J. Bodnar. “Magma sources, crustal storage depths, and degassing of alkalic, CO2-rich magmas at Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira Volcanoes, Democratic Republic of the Congo.” Earth and Planetary Science Letters 665 (2025): 119477.
Superconductivity and phase stability of a high-entropy (NbTa)0.55(HfTiZr)0.45 alloy under high pressures
Kallol Chakrabarty, Thomas Freeman, Greeshma C. Jose, Francisco J. Canales, James L. Petri, Elizabeth C. Thompson, Wenli Bi, Abhinav Yadav, Vijaya Rangari, Yogesh K. Vohra; Superconductivity and phase stability of a high-entropy (NbTa)0.55(HfTiZr)0.45 alloy under high pressures. J. Appl. Phys. 7 June 2025; 137 (21): 215901. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0265943
Atomistic mechanism of Al substitution effects on the post-stishovite transition by high-pressure single-crystal X-ray diffraction
Zhang, Yanyao, Stella Chariton, Vitali B. Prakapenka, Takuo Okuchi, and Jung-Fu Lin. “Atomistic mechanism of Al substitution effects on the post-stishovite transition by high-pressure single-crystal X-ray diffraction.” American Mineralogist 110, no. 6 (2025): 856-865.
Contrasting land-uses affect chemical composition of organic matter in tropical soils: A case study via osmium staining and infrared spectroscopy
Dor, Maoz, Ricardo de Oliveira Bordonal, Andrey K. Guber, Mark L. Rivers, and Alexandra N. Kravchenko. “Contrasting land-uses affect chemical composition of organic matter in tropical soils: A case study via osmium staining and infrared spectroscopy.” Journal of Environmental Management 388 (2025): 126067.
Interplay Between Metastability and Mechanically Induced Structural Instability in CsPbBr3 Photovoltaic Perovskite
Sizhan Liu, Sandun Amarasinghe, Mo Li, Stella Chariton, Vitali B. Prakapenka, Sanjit K. Ghose, Yong Yan, Joshua Young, and Trevor A. Tyson, Interplay Between Metastability and Mechanically Induced Structural Instability in CsPbBr3 Photovoltaic Perovskite, ACS Applied Energy Materials Article ASAP DOI: 10.1021/acsaem.5c00303
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:...
Science Highlights
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...
Photochemically Induced Co-oxidation of Aqueous Manganese and Cobalt and the Formation of Cobalt-Incorporated Manganese Oxides
Zhenwei Gao, Gwan Yeong Jung, Ping-I Chou, Olaf J. Borkiewicz, Matthew Newville, Rohan Mishra, and Young-Shin Jun, Photochemically Induced Co-oxidation of Aqueous Manganese and Cobalt and the Formation of Cobalt-Incorporated Manganese Oxides, Environmental Science & Technology Article ASAP
The origin of vertebrate teeth and evolution of sensory exoskeletons
Haridy, Yara, Sam CP Norris, Matteo Fabbri, Karma Nanglu, Neelima Sharma, James F. Miller, Mark Rivers, Patrick La Riviere, Phillip Vargas, Javier Ortega-Hernandez, Neil H. Shubin, “The origin of vertebrate teeth and evolution of sensory exoskeletons.” Nature (2025): 1-6.
The origin of vertebrate teeth and evolution of sensory exoskeletons
Link to Article | Link to UChicago News Haridy, Y., Norris, S.C.P., Fabbri, M. et al. The origin of vertebrate teeth and evolution...
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...
The Viscosity of Albitic Melt at High Pressures andImplications for the Mobility of Crust‐Forming Magmas
Ashley, A. W., Mookherjee, M., Xu, M., Yu, T., Manthilake, G., & Wang, Y. (2025). The viscosity of albitic melt at high pressures and implications for the mobility of crust-forming magmas. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 130, e2024JB030527.
Latest Happenings
GSECARS 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...