CanadianLightSource

Mine waste can contain toxic elements harmful to human health and the environment. Researchers from @agbiousask @usask are using the CLS to study how plants native to the boreal forest - which is home to many old mines - interact with these materials: bit.ly/40J07F2

#OnTheBeamlines: Growing Canada's use of nuclear power will require safe solutions for long-term storage of radioactive waste. University of Regina researchers are studying the coatings applied to steel containers used to store waste deep underground. #nuclear #SMR

#OnTheBeamlines: Researchers from @UWaterloo are exploring whether #microbes could be used to pull #CriticalMinerals from tailings ponds of abandoned mines and at the same time sequester carbon dioxide. More: bit.ly/4rCjquM

Researchers use this device at our SXRMB beamline to measure liquids up to 200°C. Sometimes solid samples are mixed with a hot liquid while they are scanned with synchrotron X-rays so we can see how solid-liquid reactions change the chemical structure of an element of interest.

Thank you to Arinjay Banerjee for leading the effort.

It was great to host our friends from @VIDOInterVac at the CLS for a collaborative workshop to explore how to work more closely together in the life sciences—including virology—to open the door to new research opportunities and shared benefits for science and society.

Read the announcement: lnkd.in/g5bj3wZU

We’re grateful for Innovation Saskatchewan’s ongoing leadership and support, which help ensure the CLS continues delivering real‑world solutions that benefit Saskatchewan people and communities. @usask

Thank you to @InnovationSask and @SKGov for announcing renewed operating support for the CLS in the 2026–27 provincial budget.

🧠 #BrainAwarenessWeek | Research led by @mcgillu using the CLS shows a novel drug molecule could reactivate a key brain “cleanup” protein—an important step toward future treatments for young Parkinson’s patients. More: bit.ly/47Aee1P #BrainWeek #BrainHealth #Parkinsons

With #AntibioticResistance growing, we need new tools to fight #infections. Using the CLS, researchers from @queensu @QueensUHealth have discovered a promising approach to stopping bacterial infections before they can start. bit.ly/3GTE08l @DbmsTweets

#OnTheBeamlines: Researchers from @UBCBioProducts @UBC are developing a method for transforming shellfish waste into strong, water-resistant threads that could one day replace petroleum-based textiles in medical uses such as surgical sutures. #climatechange #micropolastics

#BehindTheLight: As Beamline Responsible for the Far Infrared Beamline (Far-IR), Brant Billlinghurst’s top priority is making sure his users have a good experience at the CLS and achieve their scientific objectives. More: bit.ly/47e3esH

Researchers @UC_Chem @UCalgary are using the CLS to deepen our understanding of qubits, a unit of quantum information. This fundamental work could inform future efforts to design molecules for quantum information and advanced sensing applications. More: bit.ly/40CuUmP

🌾Researchers from @uofg and the CLS are using our light to analyze how wheat varieties break down during sprouting—insights that could improve the quality and nutrition of sprouted wheat products. More: bit.ly/4ad1KAu @InnovationCA @AAFC_Canada @UofGuelphOAC

Researchers from @umoncton @YukonUniversity have shown that a filter made of natural materials is effective for treating contaminated #water in colder climates and is less resource-intensive than traditional #WaterTreatment plants. bit.ly/45dxOla

#OnTheBeamlines: @uofg researchers are using the CLS to study how applying the natural compound #haxanal to #apples reduces incidence of #bitterpit, a common problem in this fruit. Their work could help apple growers worldwide improve profits and reduce losses to spoilage.