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News

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Feb. 26, 2026 How neutron science helps make blood tests more reliable

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.

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July 21, 2025 Not to be brushed off: pushing molecular limits with neutron reflectometry

Thanks to a recent upgrade of ILL’s neutron reflectometer D17, molecular motions can be tracked with unprecedented precision

Biology Health Scientific news D17 Germany United Kingdom

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March 31, 2025 Regine von Klitzing Awarded the Gentner-Kastler Prize 2025

This prestigious award recognises von Klitzing’s remarkable contributions in soft matter physics and her pioneering use of neutrons to unravel complex interface phenomena – in particular through experiments at the ILL.

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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.

Soft matter Scientific news D17 France Sweden

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July 22, 2021 Neutron reflectometry reveals SARS-CoV-2 spike protein induces lipid stripping from cell membrane

Neutron reflectometry reveals SARS-CoV-2 spike protein induces lipid stripping from cell membrane, leading to a greater understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infection mechanisms and potential therapeutics. 22 July 2021Scientists at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), in colla…

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July 7, 2021 Advanced neutron technologies galvanise research into advanced polymer electrolyte membranes

Schematic, cross-sectional view of a PEM fuel cell. Hydrogen fuel is channelled to the anode, while oxygen from air is channelled to the cathode. At the anode, hydrogen is split into protons (H+) and electrons (e-). The PEM allows the protons to cross to the cathode, while the electrons travel vi…

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Nov. 19, 2019 Scientists reveal key protein molecules associated with the unique water purification properties of Moringa seeds

Moringa seeds November 2019One in three people cannot access clean drinking water [1]. Moringa seed extracts have been used of centuries to help purify water in regions where clean water is not available.Researchers have used neutrons and X-rays to identify …

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July 16, 2019 Neutrons enable fine-tuning of pesticides to boost crop yields and reduce environmental impact.

The wax surface on the leaves of plants, such as barley and wheat crops, acts as a protective barrier against environmental attacks including pests, and water and nutrient loss. The wax surface is also involved in the uptake and transportation of water and nutrients across the plant surface for pl…

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April 23, 2019 Scientists explore the unknown behaviour of gold nanoparticles with neutrons

Researchers investigate new interactions between gold nanoparticles and cell membranes. Gold nanoparticles have a range of biomedical applications and are an important tool for drug delivery. Factors such as temperature and membrane charge are revealed to play a key role – findings that will help scientists better predict how gold nanoparticles behave within the body.

D17 Scientific news Soft matter

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Oct. 23, 2018 Neutrons help to analyse outer surface interactions on E. coli

• Bacterial infections can be lethal and are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics. Six million people dye of blood poisoning (sepsis) every year. • The use of neutrons to analyse complex structures on the surface of E.coli could reveal how bacteria interact with their surroundings…

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Feb. 21, 2013 A neutron investigation into self-assembling solar-harvesting films reveals new low-cost tool for 3D circuit printing

21.02.2013Scientists from Imperial College London, working at the Institut Laue-Langevin, have presented a new way of positioning nanoparticles in plastics, with important applications in the production of coatings and photovoltaic material that harvest energy from the sun. The study, presented i…

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