Canadian Light Source
44 Innovation Blvd S7N 2V3 Saskatoon, SK, Canada

Happy Valentine's Day!

We have amazing #womeninscience who work at our facility. They conduct key research and help other scientists around the world to use our bright light and make new discoveries. According to #UIS data, less than 30% of the world’s researchers are women. We all need to do our part to support and celebrate women and girls in #STEM.

"Science is important. It's something that's bigger than all of us and it's a field where you're encouraged to think creatively to solve complex problems. And, I think girls have strong skills in that area and I hope they feel empowered to use those skills for the greater good," said Kathryn Janzen, CLS Associate Scientist. She works at our #CMCF beamline and helps researchers around the world to study proteins and conduct health research. Go Kathryn! #WomeninScience #ChooseScience Video: https://youtu.be/88jSR222NKM

We're Hiring! Submit an application and join our team: http://lightsource.ca/careers *Summer Student Positions (Communications, Education, BioXAS, BMIT, Far IR, Industrial Science, REIXS, SGM, SM, VLS-PGM) *Cyber Security Analyst... *Postdoctoral Fellow *SXRMB Support Scientist

One in ten people are living with #diabetes, according to International Diabetes Federation Earlier this year, we shared how an international group of scientists led by Yale University challenged known research on #diabetes and may have opened the door to new therapeutic approaches for the disease. Their study was a piece of a larger project that has researchers looking at how different signals, like #insulin levels, are interpreted in the liver. They solved the structure of ...proteins and determined enzyme activity using our #CMCF beamline. The team was surprised to find information contrary to what is in textbooks, and their findings opened up a new area of insight and exploration in an already highly active field of research. It goes to show that ongoing research is needed to better understand and treat diabetes. Read the full story: https://buff.ly/382dS3C #WorldDiabetesDay Yale Medicine #diabetes #insulin #Diabeteschat #DiabetesAwarenessMonth See more

The basic physics of high-temperature superconductors has remained a great mystery for over 30 years. A new study using cutting edge experimental techniques by University of Waterloo researchers has now shed some light on the properties of one class of superconductor, known as cuprate superconductors. Superconductivity is a property of some materials that enables them to conduct electricity without losing any energy, said Prof. David Hawthorn. We’re trying to learn somethi...ng fundamental about the materials, with the hope that perhaps that will reveal a property that we could tune. We’re doing measurements [at] the Canadian Light Source in Saskatoon to shine X-rays on the cuprate materials using a technique called resonant X ray scattering, said Christopher McMahon. We're constantly pushing the synchrotron sort of to its limits of what it can do, and also of what people have ever used it for. #UWaterlooSci Read the full story: See more

Announcing the CLS Bison Project - a research experience for high school, adult education & undergrad students that centers Traditional Knowledge. It takes a proactive approach to solve a scarcity of Indigenous Peoples in science by using the four R's: Restore, Replace, Renew and Reclaim. Following the medicine wheel, we are pleased to announce our collaborators to our East: The Nature Conservancy, American Indian Center - Chicago & Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

NEWS RELEASE | Hummus for Cows? While hummus used to be an exotic spread enjoyed only in the Middle East, it has become a staple in grocery stores throughout the world. Recently, the savory dish has gained popularity amongst a new fan base: herds of cows. As chickpea production increases around the world, those crops not suitable for human consumption are being recycled into cattle feed as a partial replacement for soybean meal and cereal grains, explained Dr. Peiqiang Yu w...ith the University of Saskatchewan . However, until now there was limited information about the nutritional values for this newly developed chickpea as ruminant feed, he said. Yu and colleagues showed that our #MidIR beamline can effectively image the molecular structure of chickpea seeds to determine which varieties have the highest nutritional value and would best serve as a feed for beef and dairy cattle. The significance of the research is that it shows how synchrotron techniques can offer insights into which crops will perform best before they are produced on a mass scale. In this case, the analyses will help to ensure cows can enjoy a hummus that is not only a tasty treat, but also a nutritious one. Full story: https://buff.ly/36vN1OY Thanks to Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Saskatchewan Pulse Growers #saskcanola Government of Saskatchewan SaskMilk

Students and faculty members at the University of Saskatchewan are raising awareness of the benefits of collaborative interdisciplinary research by highlighting how synchrotron science can provide new information about historical and cultural artifacts. Full story: https://buff.ly/2Tg6hd2

It's hard to talk about the World #ScienceDay for Peace and Development without giving a shout-out to SESAME. As the first synchrotron in the Middle East, this facility builds cultural bridges between diverse societies and fosters mutual understanding and tolerance through international cooperation in science. We are proud to be part of this remarkable project which transcends politics and builds trust by bridging different cultures in the region and bringing together nations united by the common language of science and the shared goal of using the power of synchrotron light to benefit the region, said University of Saskatchewan Vice-President Research Karen Chad when the facility was about to open. During difficult times, #SESAME gives us hope for #peace and cooperation.

More than 3,000 experiments have been completed at the CLS. "It has been used to examine the effects of acid rain on spider's silk, to find the cause of missing teeth in a Bronze Age skull, to see inside the rib of a tyrannosaurus rex, and look at the chemistry of soil. It has also helped scientists develop various methods of cancer treatments." Watch this great video by @cbcsaskatoon to learn how a synchrotron works and what kinds of research the CLS has been used for:

Here's the view from our synchrotron today. #StaySafe out there! #yxe #snowstorm #snowfall #blizzard #snowday #Saskatoon