Diamond in the News
The latest press coverage from Diamond Light Source.
UK synchrotron secures £110 m upgrade
Physics World: 31 March 2010
The Diamond third-generation synchrotron light source in the UK has received £110 m of funding that will allow it to complete 10 more beamlines, bringing the total number of beamlines at the facility to 32. More...
Funding boost at Diamond Light Source at Harwell
BBC Online: 31 March 2010
Almost £100m is to be invested in the Diamond Light Source at Harwell in Oxfordshire, creating 70 new jobs. More...
Cash boost for Diamond research
Witney Gazette: 30 March 2010
Almost £100m has been awarded to fund more groundbreaking research at a world class Oxfordshire science facility. More...
Funding for Diamond Light Source
The Engineer: 30 March 2010
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has allocated £97.4m to the Science and Technology Facilities Council for Diamond Light Source’s Phase III development at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire. More...
Apprentice's 'James Bond' role
Witney Gazette: 25 February 2010
The first engineering apprentice at the Diamond project at Harwell says it is his dream job — “like something out of a James Bond movie”. More...
WI stitch for Diamond Light Source experiment
BBC Oxford: 27 January 2010
The last time the Diamond Light Source and the WI teamed up they created Designs For Life. Now they are working on a piece of work that will be the world's biggest diffraction pattern. More...
Finding Healthier Grain
The Engineer: 22 January 2010
Scientists are using high-powered X-rays from the Diamond Light Source, a third-generation synchrotron in Oxfordshire, to carry out fluorescence analysis and identify new wheat varieties with added health benefits. More...
Science is on menu at café
Oxford Times: 22 January 2010
Schoolchildren worked with top-level researchers to examine a range of scientific projects. Pupils from the Cherwell, St Edward’s and Magdalen College schools in Oxford were asked to discuss which scientific schemes deserved to be researched at the Diamond Light Source at Harwell. More...
Designs for Life: The North Wall
Oxford Times: 20 January 2010
It’s good to be able to view an innovative exhibition which fuses science with art and provides those talented Oxfordshire members of the Women’s Institute with a chance to show that they can make much more than pots of jam. More...
The Diamond Light Source at Harwell, Oxfordshire
BBC Oxford: 18 January 2010
The Diamond Light Source at Harwell is proving to be the jewel in Oxfordshire's scientific crown. More...
Pupils learn about Harwell science complex
Oxford Mail: 11 November 2009
More than 80 children from schools around the county and beyond visited the Diamond Light Source, in Harwell, which is used to investigate everything from swine flu to moths, to take part in activities and meet staff for an event called Engineering for the Future. More...
Protein reveals how insects smell
BBC Online: 1 October 2009
X-rays have revealed the structure of a protein that shows how insects smell. The protein, found in the antennae of silkworm moths, is involved in their detection of pheromones - chemical signals that affect insects' behaviour. More...
Piling for new synchrotron lab begins in Oxfordshire
New Civil Engineer: 10 September 2009
Kier Moss began piling for the world’s second longest synchrotron tunnel in June, and construction is now well underway at the Diamond Light Source laboratories in Oxfordshire. More...
Didcot scientists hope to unlock secrets of Egyptians
Oxford Mail: 1 March 2009
Scientists in Oxfordshire hope to unlock the secrets of the Egyptians using a light 10 billion times brighter than the sun. More...
Harwell light lab scans cells to study Parkinson's Disease
Oxford Mail: 20 February 2009
HARWELL’S space-age Diamond science facility is being used in a bid to shed light on the causes of Parkinson’s Disease. More...
X-ray ten billion times brighter than sun to analyse mummies
Telegraph: 17 February 2009
A British X-ray with a light ten billion times brighter than the sun is to be used to see inside mummies and other ancient artefacts. More...
Super X-ray 10 billion times brighter than Sun to reveal secrets of ancient world
Mail Online: 17 February 2009
A new super-powerful X-ray is set to uncover secrets in ancient cultural artifacts that have been locked away for centuries, by using a light 10 billion times brighter than the Sun. The X-ray beamline will be able to scan and examine large artifacts up to two tonnes in weight with incredible precision. More...
Scientists hint at Parkinson's disease X-ray treatment breakthrough
Nursing Times: 16 February 2008
Intense beams of focused X-rays are key to research into early-stage Parkinson's disease by scientists at Keele University. More...
Britain's 'Super X-ray' Diamond Synchrotron to shed new light on the ancient world
Times Online: 17 February 2009
A scientific instrument is to transform research into the Ancient World by using a light ten billion times brighter than the Sun to reveal the secrets of statues, mummies and sarcophagi. More...
It could also stop an airliner from crashing
Times Online: 16 February 2009
Synchrotron radiation is created by accelerating electrons through powerful magnetic fields, which causes them to throw off intense light, in wavelengths from infrared to X-rays. This light is many orders of magnitude brighter than that from conventional sources and has many applications in scientific research. More...
Virus-busting radiation beam offers hope to flu sufferers
The Independent on Sunday: 15 February 2009
Scientists have developed a technique for studying one of mankind's oldest enemies – the virus – which could help them treat some of the most difficult and intractable infections in the world. More...
Light 'could detect Parkinson's'
BBC News: 15 February 2009
A light as bright as a million-watt bulb could help identify early signs of Parkinson's disease, British researchers have said. The Keele University team told a conference that a "super-microscope" could spot changes in brain cells before the disease destroyed them. More...
BBC Radio 4 Today programme: 14 February 2009
British technology has come under the spotlight at the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in Chicago. Science correspondent Tom Feilden reports on the device known as the Diamond Light Source - a huge doughnut-shaped particle accelerator - which is being used to identify early signs of Parkinson's disease. More...
(listen again only available until 21 February 2009)
BBC Radio Oxford: 14 February 2009
Listen again (only available until 21 February 2009)
Bright light 'could help detect Parkinson's'
ABC News: 14 February 2009
British researchers say a light as bright as a million-watt bulb could help identify early signs of Parkinson's disease. The Keele University team told a conference in Chicago a super-microscope could spot changes in brain cells before the disease destroyed them. More...
Diamond Light - A particle accelerator illuminates the earth
The Economist: 3 November 2008
It is a synchrotron—a particle accelerator that produces exceptionally bright X-rays which illuminate unseen worlds of atoms, molecules and fibres. It can decode the structure of proteins and can look deep into every pore in a moon rock. But its ability to map the chemical makeup of soils, particularly those that have been contaminated, is what makes this whizzy new bit of kit so interesting to environmentalists. Read more...
Worms, Bonemeal & Green Rust
Radio 4 Material World: 17 October 2008
What do earthworms, green rust and bonemeal have in common? The answer is that they are all pointing the way to new techniques for cleaning up contaminated land. And the scientists concerned are finding out how they might do so using x-rays from the brightest light in Britain, the new Diamond Light Source at the Rutherford Appleton Lab near Oxford. Read more... (only available until 24 Oct 08)
Synchrotron's bright spark
The Engineer online: 14 October 2008
The Diamond synchrotron at Harwell in Oxfordshire, built at a cost of £350m, is the UK's biggest scientific project. Since opening early last year it has welcomed a torrent of researchers through its doors, keen to use its dazzling beams of light to probe everything from the molecular structure of proteins to the stresses in aero-engines. Read more...
U.K. lab boosts Japan's hopes for cancer cure
Japan Times: 13 September 2008
LONDON (Kyodo) The world's first membrane protein laboratory to be built inside a synchrotron particle accelerator has opened in Oxfordshire, England, with backing from the Japan Science and Technology Agency. Read more...
Earthworms to aid soil clean-up
BBC News Online: 12 September 2008
Scientists have discovered how metal-munching earthworms can help plants to clean up contaminated soils. Researchers at Reading University found that subtle changes occurred in metals as worms ingested and excreted soil. Read more...
New 'super worms' may clean up heavy metals
The Independent: 11 September 2008
A metal-eating earthworm that can survive the toxic environment of heavily contaminated soils is being recruited in the fight to clean up the polluted land of former industrial sites. Read more...
Mutant worms could clean up polluted landsites
The Telegraph: 11 September 2008
Worms that have mutated to survive toxic environments could be used to clean up heavy metals that have polluted soils.Scientists believe earthworms that have undergone rapid evolutionary changes after surviving in abandoned mines could help clean up sites contaminated by industries such as mining, engineering works and lead smelting operations. Read more...
Super microscope helps land clean-up
FT: 11 September 2008
The UK's newest synchrotron is contributing to the treatment of contaminated land, an audience at the BA Festival of Science heard on Wednesday. The vast, Oxfordshire-based facility generates intense light beams to probe matter down to the atomic scale, and can be used in areas as diverse as medical research and arts restoration. Read more...
Beamline JEEP up
The Engineer: 12 March 2008
Work has begun on building the Joint Engineering, Environmental and Processing (Jeep) beamline facility at the Diamond Light Source in Oxfordshire. Read more...
Scientists prove ship shape
Oxford Mail, UK: 1 Mar 2008
Scientists are using cutting-edge technology at the £260m Diamond Light Source to help conserve the historic timbers of the Mary Rose. Read more...
'Super-scope' shines on Mary Rose
BBC Online: 8 February 2008
Light rays 10 billion times brighter than the Sun are being shone on the Tudor warship, the Mary Rose, in a bid to ensure it has a bright future. The research is taking place at the Diamond synchrotron, a beam-generating machine which covers the area of five football pitches in South Oxfordshire.
Read more...
Head of Diamond Light Source Receives Honorary CBE
Institute of Physics: 28 November 2007
Professor Gerhard Materlik, Chief Executive of Diamond Light Source Ltd, received an honorary CBE from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills for services to science on Monday November 26.
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Engineering on the Edge
The Times: 15 November 2007
When it comes to challenges, Jim Kay thrives on them. He’s the head of engineering at the Diamond synchrotron – essentially an X-ray 100 billion times brighter than one you would use on a broken leg.
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Queen examines magnified flu virus
Channel4: 19 October 2007
The Queen picked up a bit of flu as she toured a ground-breaking giant microscope. Luckily the virus Her Majesty was examining was a magnified model rather than the real thing.
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Queen pays visit to 'super-scope'
BBC Online: 19 October 2007
The Queen has paid a visit to the biggest science facility to be built in the UK for 30 years.
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Little Hannah is star of royal visit
Oxford Mail: 19 October 2007
Four-year-old Hannah Terrill's dream came true when she came face-to-face with the Queen today.
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Queen visits super-microscope
Oxford Times: 19 October 2007
THE Queen picked up a bit of flu today as she toured a ground-breaking giant microscope. Luckily the virus Her Majesty was examining was a magnified model rather than the real thing.
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Supercomputer helps cut drug research time
Silicon.com: 18 September 2007
Case study: Crunching data for the Diamond Light super microscope
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How X-rays could unfold the secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls
Daily Mail: 13 September 2007
The secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls could soon be unlocked by the world's most powerful X-ray machine.
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Powerful x-ray to unravel fragile Dead Sea scrolls
The Guardian: 13 September 2007
Ancient writings from the Dead Sea scrolls are to be read for the first time by British scientists using powerful x-rays.
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Diamond synchrotron to use x-rays to examine Dead Sea Scrolls
Telegraph: 13 September 2007
Secrets contained in fragile documents such as the Dead Sea Scrolls are to be revealed using one of the most powerful light sources in the Universe.
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Ultra-bright light can read a book without opening it
Times Online: 13 September 2007
Historic parchment manuscripts that are too fragile to be unfolded, such as parts of the Dead Sea Scrolls, could soon be read without being opened using a scanning technique that relies on the world’s brightest light.
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Diamond reveals hidden writings
BBC News: 13 September 2007
The hidden content in ancient works could be illuminated by a light source 10 billion times brighter than the Sun. The technique employs Britain's new facility, the Diamond synchrotron, and could be used on works such as the Dead Sea Scrolls or musical scores by Bach.
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Supercomputer Shines Ray of Light on Cancer Research
HPC Wire : 4 September 2007
Diamond Light Source is using a High Performance Compute Cluster (HPCC) to enable scientists to undertake larger, more complex life sciences research and complete analysis of research more quickly - reducing data analysis time from weeks to near real-time.
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Diamond open day enlightens visitors
Herald Series: 19 July 2007
THOUSANDS of people had an enlightening experience at a state-of-the-art research facility - with scientists describing their open day as an "overwhelming success".
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Lab's Open Day proves a success
Oxford Mail: 17 July 2007
Light Fantastic
The Engineer: April 2007
The largest scientific facility to be built in the UK in 40 years is now operational in the Oxfordshire countryside. The project depends on a combination of immense power and extremely elaborate control engineering.
UK's Diamond Light Source synchrotron facility opens for scientists
Earthtimes.org: 7th February 2007
Diamond Light Source synchrotron, the UK's largest science facility to be built in 30 years, has opened its doors Tuesday.
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Museum scientist uses new 'super microscope'
Natural History Museum: 7th February 2007
Natural History Museum mineral expert, Paul Schofield, is one of the first scientists to use the new 'super microscope' that opened in Oxfordshire yesterday.
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First projects begin at new Diamond synchrotron
The Register:7th February 2007
The first research projects have begun at the newly opened Diamond Light Source, a state of the art synchrotron facility in Oxfordshire.
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First Research Projects Underway at Diamond Light Source
Innovations report: 7th February 2007
This week marks the dawn of a new era of scientific endeavour as Diamond Light Source, the UK's brand new synchrotron facility, opens its doors for business.
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New light facility opens for business
InTheNews.co.uk: 7th February 2007
The Diamond Light Source in Oxfordshire will enable scientists and businesses to make use of cutting edge light technology.
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First Research Projects Underway at Diamond Light Source
Gizmag, Australia: 7th February 2007
This week marks the dawn of a new era of scientific endeavour as Diamond Light Source, the UK's brand new synchrotron facility
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"Diamond" Light Source opens for Business
Optics.org: 7th February 2007
The first scientists to use the Diamond Light Source, a "third-generation" synchrotron near Oxford, UK are arriving at the facility this week
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Diamond's brilliance lures top scientists
The Guardian: 7th February 2007
Research at the Diamond synchrotron got under way in earnest yesterday in south Oxfordshire, with scientists queuing up to use its state of the art facilities.
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Diamond light source ready for business
PhysicsWeb: 6 February 2007
The biggest scientific facility to have been built in the UK for over 30 years is finally ready for use.
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"Super scope" opens for business
BBC News: 6th February 2007
The biggest science facility to be built in the UK for 30 years - the Diamond Light Source synchrotron - has opened its doors for business.
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An eye-opener for the atomic world
The Daily Telegraph: 23rd January 2007
Roger Highfield reports on Diamond looking "a million dollars" whilst delivering the most intense source of light on Earth.
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Diamond 'light for the future'
Oxfordshire Herald Series: 9th November 2006
The Prime Minister visits Diamond and highlights the facility's role in the future prosperity of the UK.
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