Diamond in the News

The latest press coverage from Diamond Light Source.

Firms say: 'you're hired'
Oxford Times, 24th November 2011
The RAL scheme, which has now been running for 19 years, is seen as one of the best apprenticeship schemes in the country... Head of engineering at Diamond Light Source, Jim Kay, said: “The apprenticeship is a great scheme to train up school-leavers and equip them with the skills needed to enter the UK job market..." More...

Coffee's Clue to Parkinson's Treatment
Laboratory News, 7th October 2011
Xanthine-based drugs such as caffeine are known to inhibit the action of adenosine A2A receptors, but the exact molecular mechanism involved was not fully understood. A visit to the Microfocus Macromolecular Crystallography (MX) beamline at Diamond Light Source has helped scientists from Heptares Therapeutics reveal the receptor’s structure. More...

Diamond Light Source contest for synchrotron stories
New Scientist, 8th September 2011
Particle accelerators give us tremendous insight into the way our world works - and serve as a source of inspiration for pondering our place in that world. Now [Diamond is] asking writers to harness that inspiration for its newly launched short story competition. More...

Your World: Iconic Geometry
BBC World Service, 29th August 2011
Cecil Balmond examines the hidden geometry at the core of stonehenge and Diamond Light Source. Listen... (at 14:20)

EU-funded catalyst collaboration launched
The Chemical Engineer, 23rd August 2011
A NEW EU-funded project known as Carena aims to create technology to efficiently convert light alkanes and CO2 into higher value chemicals... One of several research institutes to throw its weight behind the project is the UK’s national synchrotron facility, Diamond Light Source. More...

Tribes of Science
BBC Radio 4, 11th August 2011
A gigantic silver doughnut in the countryside is the home of the Diamond synchrotron tribe. Peter Curran meets the scientists who control the UK's most powerful X-ray machine. Listen...

Study could pave the way for cheap and efficient solar cells
The Engineer, 4th July 2011
A new study shows that efficient solar cell structures can be made by using simple and inexpensive manufacturing methods where flexible layers of material are deposited over large areas. Scientists from the universities of Sheffield and Cambridge used the ISIS Neutron Source and Diamond Light Source to carry out the research. More...

Hope of drugs without side effects for allergy sufferers
Daily Mirror, 23rd June 2011
Allergy sufferers were given fresh hopes last night after scientists took a step closer to developing treatments without side effects. Researchers analysed the protein that triggers the debilitating reactions to dust, pollen, pets and food and identified ways of targeting it more efficiently. More...

Polymers 'to help fake notes fight'
The Independent, 19th May 2011
Scientists have developed a material which could help in the fight against counterfeit banknotes and passports. The academics used Diamond Light Source ... to probe the ordered, layered structures using high power X-rays. More...

Diamond Light Source claims tooth decay breakthrough
BBC Online, 3rd May 2011
Scientists in Oxfordshire have claimed a breakthrough in battling tooth decay. Work at Diamond Light Source has revealed the 3D structure of an important enzyme. More...

Deputy PM shines light on local success
Oxford Mail, 20th April 2011
Mr Clegg visited Harwell's Diamond Light Source, which uses state-of-the-art technology to produce incredibly bright light. More...

The Power of Light
ITV Meridian, 5th April 2011
It's a world leading science facility in the heart of Oxfordshire. The Diamond Light source is home to a powerful beam of light that can see the structure of atoms and molecules in more detail than ever. Watch...

Bulmershe students visit Diamond Light Source
Wokingham Times, 5th April 2011
Pupils from The Bulmershe School in Chequers Way paid a visit to Diamond Light Source on Thursday, March 17. More...

Nature's nanospring
Laboratory News, 1st April 2011
International researchers have unravelled elastin - a protein which allows our lungs to expand and contract as we breathe and our arteries to dilate and constrict with our heart beat. More...

Science Minister visit
The Oxford Times, 17th March 2011
Mr Willetts met scientists, engineers and industrial partners at Diamond Light Source, the UK’s national synchrotron facility, and formally inaugurated Diamond’s Phase III development. More...

SuperB scientists test new ideas at Diamond
physorg.com, 24th February 2011
Accelerator physicists working on the recently funded SuperB accelerator in Italy have been collaborating with Diamond’s accelerator physicists. More...

The Synchrotron
Blueprint Magazine, 28th January 2011
... Diamond Light Source was identified by Osborne as an example of a 'priority' infrastructure project that stood apart from the spending squeeze on scientific research. More...

Antibiotics improve with visualization techniques
Physorg.com, 17th January 2011
...using state of the art facilities at the Diamond Light Source synchrotron, the team were able to determine the accurate chemical structure of the penicillin binding protein PBP3 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. More...

Henry Wellcome: from backwoods boy to medicine man
The Observer, 9th January 2011
The enterprises [the Wellcome Trust] helps pay for include: Diamond Light Source. More...

Campus round-up
Times Higher Education, 23rd December 2010
A university has joined forces with Diamond Light Source, the national synchrotron, to develop a three-dimensional internal imaging facility. More...

EPSRC funding cuts: will industry make up the difference?
Research blog by Lord Alec Broers, 23rd December 2010
... We know that large centres can work well by looking at the success of the Diamond Light Source... More...

Engineering Your Future
Oxford Mail, 16th December 2010
More than 100 students from across Oxfordshire attended a special careers day for budding engineers. More...

Diamond light source facility aids engine development
The Engineer, 2nd December 2010
The Diamond Light Source, the UK’s national synchrotron science facility, revealed today that Rolls-Royce’s latest Trent 1000 turbofan engines were developed using its new high-energy engineering beamline. More...

Diamond discoveries
Laboratory News, 18th November 2010
Kerry Taylor-Smith left Lab News Towers and ventured into the heart of the Oxfordshire countryside to discover what's new at the Diamond Light Source. More...

Diamond helps to understand HIV
BBC Radio Oxford & BBC South Today, 11th November 2010
Scientists from Imperial College London use to Diamond to understand how HIV attacks the body. More...

Throwing out all bar the kitchen sink
Financial Times, 21st October 2010
Mr Osborne shows a preference for elite scientific projects such as Oxfordshire's Diamond Synchrotron, in contrast with the every-kid-gets-a-lollipop approach of the last government. Fine. Elitism is as intrinsic to business as it is to science. [Online story behind paywall]

Good and Bad
The Oxford Times, 21st October 2010
The Government gave a commitment to the research work at the Diamond Synchrotron and pledged to maintain its spending on research — so important to our two universities and hospitals. More...

How science was saved from the axe
BBC News Online, 21st October 2010
Diamond synchrotron (a type of particle accelerator) is the largest UK-funded facility to be built in England for 40 years. More...

Science funding: Back the boffins
The Guardian, 19th October 2010
Mr Osborne... said he would protect large infrastructure projects, including the diamond synchrotron at Harwell which has repeatedly proved its academic importance in the past two years. More...

Piezo Power
The Engineer, 18th October 2010
[Leeds] university’s Institute for Materials Research has been using the Diamond Light Source... to investigate the structure and properties of piezoelectric ceramics. More...

Shedding light: Engineering research at Diamond
The Engineer, 4th October 2010
The UK's Diamond Light Source is enabling advances across a range of engineering sectors. Stuart Nathan reports. More...

Stitching Light
Science magazine: 23 July 2010
It doesn't look like an x-ray, but this richly embroidered,18-square-meter tapestry, unveiled 9 July at the Diamond LightSource synchrotron lab in Chilton, U.K., is just that. More...

Music from the Genome: Diamond Light Source, Harwell
The Oxford Times: 14 July 2010
The Diamond Light Source might seem an odd venue for a concert, but for Music from the Genome it was appropriate. More...

Britain's cutting-edge synchrotron in Oxfordshire
BBC Breakfast: 11 June 2010
Watch...

Largest science project using Diamond synchrotron
BBC News at Ten: 11 June 2010
Watch...

Diamond comes of age as 18th experimental station becomes operational
physorg.com: 11 May 2010
On Wednesday 27th April, the first researchers arrived on the latest experimental station to become operational at Diamond. More...

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.
Read more...

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.
Read more...

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.
Read more...

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.
Read more...

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.
Read more...

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.
Read more...

Supercomputer helps cut drug research time
Silicon.com: 18 September 2007
Case study: Crunching data for the Diamond Light super microscope
Read more...

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.
Read more...

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.
Read more...

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.
Read more...

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.
Read more...

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.
Read more...

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.  
Read more...

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".
Read more...

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.
Read more...

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.
Read more...

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.
Read more...

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.
Read more...

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.
Read more...

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
Read more...

"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
Read more...

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.
Read more...

"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.
Read more...

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.
Read more...

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.
Read More...