World’s biggest X-ray laser launched in Hamburg

Heard about that on the radio this morning, although they just said "X-ray machine". Cool!

I hadn't heard about this until now. I know the ability of X-Ray diffraction of molecular crystals as this has been around for many decades, but this could make that look like the difference between a black and white photo and 3D color video. Very exciting news.

Do you need laser glasses in case you get hit by the beam in the eye?

“With 27,000 X-ray laser flashes per second and a luminance a billion times higher than that of the best conventional X-ray sources, XFEL will open up entirely new research opportunities and help transcend the current boundaries of scientific research,” the XFEL team said in a press release.

“It will enable international scientists to decipher the molecular composition of viruses and cells, take three-dimensional images of the nanoworld, film chemical reactions and study processes occurring deep inside planets. XFEL will help develop e.g. new medication and new materials.”

Awesome $1.45 Billion X-Ray laser tube!!