WHY DO SCIENTISTS USE THE ADVANCED LIGHT SOURCE --A TOOL THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL FIELD-- TO LEARN ABOUT STRUCTURES AS TINY AS ATOMS AND MOLECULES ?

Fact: X rays have shorter wavelengths than visible light. But both are light, also called electromagnetic radiation.

Many scientists working on different projects can use the ALS at the same time. For example, one scientist might be checking samples of mud for tiny amounts of a toxic contaminant, while another might be investigating a polymer to find out how its molecules are arranged.