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
Influence of Pore Water on the Fracture of Silica Sand at Particle Scale
Safi, Mohammad, Khalid A. Alshibli, and Haochen Li. “Influence of Pore Water on the Fracture of Silica Sand at Particle Scale.” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 151, no. 7 (2025): 04025055.
In Situ Diffraction and Ex Situ Transmission X-Ray Microscopy Studies of Solid-State Upcycling for NMC Cathodes
Nisbet, Matthew L., Diana Luong, Eva Allen, Sohyun Park, Tiffany L. Kinnibrugh, Joanne E. Stubbs, Peter J. Eng, John T. Vaughey, and Tim T. Fister. “In Situ Diffraction and Ex Situ Transmission X‐Ray Microscopy Studies of Solid‐State Upcycling for NMC Cathodes.” Advanced Energy Materials (2025): 2500698.
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.
Superconducting dome and structural changes in LaRu3Si2 under pressure
Li, Zhuoqi, Shuyuan Huyan, Elizabeth C. Thompson, Tyler J. Slade, Dongzhou Zhang, Young J. Ryu, Wenli Bi, Sergey L. Bud’ko, and Paul C. Canfield. “Superconducting dome and structural changes in LaRu. Phys. Rev B, 111, 144505 (2025), DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.111.144505
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.
Science Highlights
An oxygen fugacity-temperature-pressure-composition model for sulfide speciation in Mercurian magmas
Brendan A. Anzures, Stephen W. Parman, Ralph E. Milliken, Olivier Namur, Camille Cartier, Francis M. McCubbin, Kathleen E. Vander Kaaden, Kelsey Prissel, Kayla Iacovino, Antonio Lanzirotti, Matthew Newville, “An oxygen fugacity-temperature-pressure-composition model for sulfide speciation in Mercurian magmas,” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 388, 61-77 (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.gca.2024.11.012
Sound velocities and thermal equation of state of fcc-iron-nickel alloys at high pressure and high temperature: Implications for the cores of Moon and several planets
Siheng Wang, Sibo Chen, Man Xu, Tony Yu, Yanbin Wang, Baosheng Li, Sound velocities and thermal equation of state of fcc-iron-nickel alloys at high pressure and high temperature: Implications for the cores of Moon and several planets, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 649, 2025, 119118, ISSN 0012-821X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2024.119118.
U and Th zonation in apatite observed by synchrotron X-ray fluorescence tomography and implications for the (U–Th) ∕ He system
U and Th zonation in apatite observed by synchrotron X–ray fluorescence tomography and implications for the (U–Th)/He system...
Phase transition kinetics of superionic H2O ice phases revealed by Megahertz X-ray free-electron laser-heating experiments
Husband, R.J., Liermann, H.P., McHardy, J.D. et al. Phase transition kinetics of superionic H2O ice phases revealed by Megahertz X-ray free-electron laser-heating experiments. Nat Commun 15, 8256 (2024).
Structure and transport properties of FeS at planetary core conditions
E. Edmund, T. Bi, Z.M. Geballe, K. Brugman, J.-F. Lin, S. Chariton, V.B. Prakapenka, J. Minár, R.E. Cohen, A.F. Goncharov, Structure and transport properties of FeS at planetary core conditions, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 646, 2024, 118959, ISSN 0012-821X
Compressional and shear wave velocities of Fe-bearing silicate post-perovskite in Earth’s lowermost mantle
Jing Yang, Suyu Fu, Jin Liu, Jung-Fu Lin, Compressional and shear wave velocities of Fe-bearing silicate post-perovskite in Earth’s lowermost mantle, Geoscience Frontiers, 2024, 101915, ISSN 1674-9871
Latest Happenings
Andy Campbell talks at “New Opportunities and Developments in SEES”.
Andy Campbell talks “SEES: New Opportunities and Developments in Synchrotron Earth and Environmental Science”. Oct 23, 1pm. https://uic.zoom.us/j/99098590328?pwd=Qkxia2ROdXVvSHRNUGdNaHN1Wjlodz09
Young scientists attend the 3rd South Science Festival
Children of GSE scientists, Vida and Peter, had a blast learning about science at the South Science Festival, which hosted over 4,500 local attendees.
SEES Booth at GSA Conference
SEES had an exhibition booth at the GSA conference in Anaheim this year. Joanne Stubbs (Beamline...
South Side Science Festival 2024
GSE scientists Tim Officer and Stella Chariton get ready for the South Side Science Festival, Oct 5th