Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Argonne is a multidisciplinary science and engineering research center where scientists and engineers work together to tackle some of the world’s most complex challenges. One of the lab’s most powerful tools is the Advanced Photon Source (APS), a premier X‑ray light source that enables researchers to probe matter at extreme detail and understand how materials, devices, and biological systems function at their most fundamental levels.
Modern scientific challenges increasingly span multiple physical and time scales—from atomic-level interactions to full systems operating in real-world conditions. As materials, electronics, and biological samples become smaller, faster, and more complex, researchers need X‑ray beams that are both far brighter and more precise to capture these processes as they happen. The original APS, after nearly 30 years of operation, could no longer fully meet these growing demands, limiting scientists’ ability to study tiny structures, rapid changes, and complex behaviors in a single experiment.
To address this challenge, Argonne undertook a comprehensive upgrade of the APS, reimagining what an X‑ray light source could deliver. The upgraded APS now produces X‑ray beams up to 500 times brighter than before, allowing researchers to observe smaller features, capture faster processes, and connect insights across scales with unprecedented clarity. With nine new experiment stations designed to fully leverage these capabilities, the new APS opens the door to discoveries that will advance materials science, energy technologies, electronics, and human health.
This video celebrates the conclusion of the APS Upgrade project, including footage taken throughout the construction and assembly of the enhanced facility.
Learn more about the Advanced Photon Source ►► aps.anl.gov
Still haven't subscribed to Argonne National Laboratory on YouTube? ►► bit.ly/2Vyzwvm
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ABOUT ARGONNE
Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology by conducting leading-edge basic and applied research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit the Office of Science website.
Argonne is a multidisciplinary science and engineering research center where scientists and engineers work together to tackle some of the world’s most complex challenges. One of the lab’s most powerful tools is the Advanced Photon Source (APS), a premier X‑ray light source that enables researchers to probe matter at extreme detail and understand how materials, devices, and biological systems function at their most fundamental levels.
Modern scientific challenges increasingly span multiple physical and time scales—from atomic-level interactions to full systems operating in real-world conditions. As materials, electronics, and biological samples become smaller, faster, and more complex, researchers need X‑ray beams that are both far brighter and more precise to capture these processes as they happen. The original APS, after nearly 30 years of operation, could no longer fully meet these growing demands, limiting scientists’ ability to study tiny structures, rapid changes, and complex behaviors in a single experiment.
To address this challenge, Argonne undertook a comprehensive upgrade of the APS, reimagining what an X‑ray light source could deliver. The upgraded APS now produces X‑ray beams up to 500 times brighter than before, allowing researchers to observe smaller features, capture faster processes, and connect insights across scales with unprecedented clarity. With nine new experiment stations designed to fully leverage these capabilities, the new APS opens the door to discoveries that will advance materials science, energy technologies, electronics, and human health.
This video celebrates the conclusion of the APS Upgrade project, including footage taken throughout the construction and assembly of the enhanced facility.
Learn more about the Advanced Photon Source ►► aps.anl.gov
Still haven't subscribed to Argonne National Laboratory on YouTube? ►► bit.ly/2Vyzwvm
Join us on Facebook bit.ly/ArgonneFacebook
Follow us on Twitter bit.ly/ArgonneTwitter
We’re on Instagram! bit.ly/ArgonneInstagram
Connect with us on LinkedIn bit.ly/ArgonneLinkedIn
ABOUT ARGONNE
Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology by conducting leading-edge basic and applied research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit the Office of Science website.
