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Synchrotron science
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Synchrotron science
What are the benefits? How do synchrotrons work? What are they used for?
For our researchers
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For our researchers
The Australian Synchrotron Beamlines at the Australian Synchrotron Who is using the Synchrotron? Benefits of access How to get access Networking
Science impact
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Science impact
Medical research Primary industries & environment Planetary science Energy, electronics & sustainability
News and events

News and events
News Events

About us
RACV Solar Australian Synchrotron 0
What we do Benefits of membership Our story Our people Annual reports Contact us Image credits

Synchrotron science
ansto project bright
What are the benefits? How do synchrotrons work? What are they used for?

For our researchers
algae
The Australian Synchrotron Beamlines at the Australian Synchrotron Who is using the Synchrotron? Benefits of access How to get access Networking

Science impact
mars rising
Medical research Primary industries & environment Planetary science Energy, electronics & sustainability

News and events
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News Events

What are the benefits

Many everyday commodities we take for granted, from chocolate to cosmetics, from revolutionary drugs to surgical tools, have been improved or developed through research that used synchrotron light.

These powerful light sources have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of materials, biology, medicine, and even our understanding of the universe. From developing cancer therapies and anti-viral drugs to revealing the structure of ancient fossils and the pigments in old paintings, or improving battery technology, synchrotron research continues to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge.

The 50+ synchrotrons around the world are routinely used for ground-breaking science. Important science questions could not be answered without them.

The use of synchrotrons is set to grow in response to the demand for alternatives to our planet’s increasing scarce resources and degraded environment.
Discover more about New Zealand's synchrotron research

New Zealand researchers’ remarkable synchrotron science

New Zealand researchers have been using the Australian Synchrotron for discovery since 2007.

These are a small sample of applications that New Zealand researchers have used the synchrotron for over the years. Find out more about these projects and other ground-breaking science led by our research community.

Using algae to recover phosphorus from waterways

Our waterways are increasingly subject to nutrification from agricultural runoffs, which can be difficult to remedy.

Richard Haverkamp and colleagues investigated how microalgae sequester phosphorus.

Their new understanding of phosphate storage in algae suggests a mechanism to capture phosphorus to both mitigate eutrophication of waterways and recover a valuable agricultural resource.
shutterstock 695352958
shutterstock 695352958

Was there life on Mars? Hot springs in the Taupō region might have the answer

Biosignatures of stromatolites, formed by ancient cyanobacteria in geothermal fields like those around Taupō, are analogues for early life on Earth and possibly Mars.

Michael Rowe, Ema Nersezova and colleagues studied these biosignatures with international collaborators, including NASA. They found a way to assess novel biosignatures that can be used for Mars exploration which could tell us if there really is (or was) life on another planet.
shutterstock 2445658321 m
shutterstock 2445658321 m

Improved sheet formation in Novatein, a novel bioplastic

Bioplastics are an attractive alternative to synthetic polymers as they are not sourced from petrochemicals and are biodegradable.

Together with international colleagues, Johan Verbeek used the Synchrotron to improve the processability and product quality of Novatein, a bioplastic derived from meat by-products.
verbeek novatein
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The new beamlines open new realms of possibility

The New Zealand and Australian governments have invested into new facilities to keep Australasia at the leading edge of synchrotron science.

The existing beamlines at the Australian Synchrotron cannot keep up with demand; such is the value of the facility to science in Australasia.

Moreover, with advances in scientific methods, researchers require access to a broader suite of techniques than those previously available. The Australian Synchrotron initiated a new programme (Project BRIGHT) to add capacity and capability to the facilities.

The project adds eight beamlines to the existing 10, with the last four due be operational within the next 12 months: High Performance Macromolecular Crystallography (MX3) due in June 2025; Advanced Diffraction and Scattering (ADS1 and ADS2) due in June 2025 and June 2026 and X-ray Fluorescence Nanoprobe (NANO), due in February 2026.

The new MX3 beamline enhances resolution of small and difficult samples

The new High Performance Macromolecular Crystallography (MX3) beamline provides a state-of-the-art high-throughput facility for studies of very small, weakly diffracting crystals of protein fragments and solution studies of protein fragments. Applications include in-membrane proteins and receptors; virology; and materials science.
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eiger 5 hero
Find out more about the MX3 beamline

New opportunities for manufacturing industries via the ADS beamline

The Advanced Diffraction and Scattering (ADS) beamline has two independent end-stations (ADS1 and ADS2) for polychromatic and monochromatic X-ray diffraction and imaging. Applications span the energy, automotive, transport, defence & aerospace, and marine infrastructure sectors.
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Find out more about the new ADS beamline

Elemental mapping and high-resolution visualization with the NANO beamline

The new X-ray Fluorescence Nanoprobe (NANO) will be optimised for fluorescence detection for a range of applications in physics, chemistry, biology, nutrition & health, geosciences, engineering, environmental research, soil science, agriculture, cultural heritage, and materials science.
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Discover the NANO beamline capabilities