News

Neutron scattering shows how local density shapes motion within self-assembled protein structures

Linking simple physical rules, machine learning and neutron spectroscopy to discover crystals with record-low thermal conductivity

Blood-based biomarkers are widely used to diagnose and monitor diseases through simple blood tests. However, in some cases they can be partially “hidden” and harder to detect accurately. Researchers investigated, with molecular accuracy, how biomarkers interact with lipid membranes using neutron reflectometry at the ILL.

A new study based on neutrons provides valuable insights into the thermal vulnerability of different bacterial families. It shows that organisms adapted to very low temperatures are also surprisingly fragile: even a slight rise in temperature can be lethal, long before any structural damage appears.

Bacteria can be surprisingly resistant - neutron-based techniques show why.

The ILL strengthens its research capabilities by modernising two key instruments (D11 and NeXT-MoTo) to address major challenges in health, energy transition and sustainable technologies. Supported by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and the European Union, this project represents a €1.8 million investment under the CPER EPN 2030 (State-Region Plan Contract).

Solid-state battery research has just been turbocharged by the development of the first sample cell that unlocks the unique real-time insights of operando neutron diffraction at the ILL. This major advancement is the result of a collaborative effort between the ILL and LEPMI laboratory in Grenoble within the framework of the OpInSolid project funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR).

A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals an unexpected transition between two different insulator states. Neutron diffractometry experiments at the ILL, conducted on the D2B high-resolution, two-axis diffractometer, open up the path towards advanced technologies by providing vital insights into the complex electronic behavior of such materials.

Last week, the very first team of users has been performing experiments on the SHARPER instrument at the ILL.

More than a century after the discovery of the atomic nucleus, no universal model can yet reliably predict its properties as the numbers of protons and neutrons change. Exotic nuclei – highly unstable and complex systems with unique properties – challenge and extend current nuclear theory. An additional piece of the puzzle was recently provided from the combination of experimental results from two leading international facilities and advanced theoretical calculations.

From 2 to 5 June 2025, the Journées de la Diffusion Neutronique (JDN) brought together the French neutron scattering community for a lively edition by the shores of the Annecy lake.

The ILL has just received a firm commitment from its Associate countries, France, the UK and Germany, to continue operation until 2033. “We have been working very hard to secure a unanimous commitment from all three Associate countries and are delighted with the decision,” says ILL Director, Ken Andersen, “The ILL is now in a position to plan scientific operation until the end of 2033.”