Science Features - August 2025
A bright light for Switzerland: The new Swiss Light Source is inaugurated
On Thursday 21 August, PSI welcomed around 150 guests from politics, business and science to celebrate the successful upgrade, including Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin and Martina Bircher, member of the cantonal government and Head of the Department of Education, Culture and Sport of the Canton of Aargau.
Welcome back, SLS!
What will the SLS 2.0 upgrade mean for experiments?
Tighter beams, brighter light and extended photon energies open new experimental possibilities. Last year, we dived into the nitty gritty of what the upgrade would mean for experiments. With the upgrade a success, these experimental possibilities are now a reality!
X-rays reveal fossil stealth technology
Using state-of-the-art X-ray microtomography at the TOMCAT beamline of the Swiss Light Source SLS researchers have gained insights into the silent hunting techniques of a giant ichthyosaur – a marine predator that roamed the dimly lit oceans 183 million years ago. The study was published in the journal Nature.
New insights into a rare disease
Scientists at the PSI’s Centre for Life Sciences have shown for the first time how genetic defects profoundly alter the internal architecture of human cilia. The results of their study indicate that the structural damage varies depending on the mutation – possibly indicating the existence of previously overlooked subtypes of a poorly understood disease: primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences.
News from the PSI Facilities
Here the next proposal submission deadlines
SINQ 15 November 2025
SµS 01 December 2025
SwissFEL 15 September 2025
CHRISP 16 January 2026
An overview of all proposal submission deadlines of the PSI facilities can be found here.
Welcome back, SLS! We received 58 proposals from 10 countries requesting beamtime for November and December 2025 on five SLS beamlines (PXIII, ADDAMS, PolLux, Debye/Super-XAS). Most beamlines are already significantly overbooked, underlining the strong interest in using the upgraded SLS. The proposals are now under evaluation. Thank you to all who submitted proposals. We are excited to welcome you back to SLS after the upgrade!
🎥 Relive the most exciting moments of the SLS 2.0 project! Enjoy the special video created for the SLS inauguration and celebrate this milestone with us. 👉 Watch the video on YouTube
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PSI is home to five large-scale research facilities: SLS, SμS, SINQ, SwissFEL, and CHRISP, offering unique opportunities for interdisciplinary science. Can you guess where Angela is in the second video of our #WhereAmI series? Check out our Instagram channel for the answer and don’t forget to follow us for more behind-the-scenes from #ResearchAtPSI!