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
An unexpectedly shrunken bandgap in V2O5 nanoparticles
E L Anquillare et al, An unexpectedly shrunken bandgap in V2O5 nanoparticles, 2025, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 37 235302 DOI...
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.
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]...
Raman scattering of rhenium for secondary pressure calibration
Allison Pease, Claire Zurkowski, Stella Chariton, Heidi N. Krauss, Daniel Sneed, Vitali Prakapenka, Bruce Baer, Susannah M. Dorfman, Earl F. O’Bannon; Raman scattering of rhenium for secondary pressure calibration. J. Appl. Phys. 21 May 2025; 137 (19): 195901.
Suppressing Phase Transitions and High-Pressure Amorphization through Tethered Organic Cations in Organochalcogenide-Halide Perovskites
Jiayi Li, Jan Hofmann, Robert M. Stolz, Jiajia Wen, Christina R. Deschene, Hannah Bartels, Zhenxian Liu, Alberto Salleo, Yu Lin, Karena W. Chapman,...
Science Highlights
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.
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.
Latest Happenings

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...
