April 21, 2026
Room to move: how proteins behave in crowded environments
Neutron scattering shows how local density shapes motion within self-assembled protein structures
News
Dec. 10, 2025
Easy to digest: neutrons reveal how the human body processes plant proteins
A recently published study makes an important contribution to our understanding of the physiological processing of plant-based foods. The results of this work can be used to optimise production, improving the digestibility of plant proteins and thus the nutritional value of vegetarian and vegan dishes.
Nov. 23, 2025
New insights into ion transport in next-generation solid electrolytes
The results of a new study show how materials scientists may be able to fine-tune ionic transport properties to meet specific technological needs in catalysis and solid-state energy devices.
Sept. 25, 2025
Phospholipids on a pea
Neutron reflectometry provides valuable insights into the molecular intricacies of plant-based food.
Sept. 4, 2025
Spaghetti ai neutroni – Investigating the nanostructure of (gluten-free) spaghetti
Researchers used neutrons and X-rays to look into the structure of spaghetti at the nanometre scale, comparing the effect of cooking and salt in gluten-free and gluten-containing pasta.
July 22, 2025
Magnetism, vortices and neutron spin echo: a winning combination
In a series of experiments published in Nature Physics, researchers from Japan, the UK, Sweden, and the Czech Republic collaborated at ILL-IN15, one of the world's leading spin echo facilities. Their neutron spin echo (NSE) experiments confirmed the presence of asymmetric dynamics in the skyrmion phase of MnSi, indicating its strong potential for spintronic devices and sustainable technology.
June 15, 2025
Crystal clear: using neutrons to tackle a fundamental biotechnological challenge
ILL's instruments play a crucial role in disentangling complex protein crystallisation pathways.
May 9, 2025
Doubts about multiband superconductivity? D33 can fix it!
Recently published findings from experiments carried out at the ILL and at SINQ confirm monochromatic small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) as the definitive go-to method to characterise multiband superconductivity in a material.
March 28, 2025
Good hair day: how neutrons help understand shampoo-hair interactions
Research is constantly ongoing to optimise the properties of shampoos. This study could help design better, more sustainable hair-care products with improved conditioning effects. It was developed at ILL in collaboration with L'Oréal.
March 10, 2025
Protons on the move
Energy-resolved neutron experiments provide insights into novel energy technologies
April 3, 2024
Protein dynamics: dancing at different rhythms
The goal of this study was to complete the mapping of the dynamics of the well-known protein Hsp90 by studying the 5-500 ns timescale using a combination of state-of-the-art complementary techniques, and to take the first steps towards understanding how this timescale relates to the slower dynamics known to drive the protein’s functioning.
Feb. 29, 2024
Neutrons, space-grown crystals, and enzymes
An article recently published in Cell Reports reveals how researchers have for the first time directly visualized the position of protons within key functional elements of an enzyme that plays an important role in the metabolism of many microorganisms. Neutron diffraction measurements at ILL of protein crystals grown under microgravity conditions at the International Space Station (ISS) were key ingredients in this work.