CHESS eNewsletter - October 2025 Issue No. 125

Dear CHESS Community,



As we move deeper into the fall season, CHESS is in full swing with our fall user run. It’s always inspiring to see the energy and creativity our visiting researchers bring to the lab. Each experiment adds a new piece to the puzzle of how materials work at the most fundamental levels.

Behind the scenes, our staff continue to make steady progress on two major projects shaping CHESS’s future: the High Magnetic Field (HMF) Beamline and XLEAP. Although awaiting delivery of the magnet, the HMF beamline is essentially complete and undergoing x-ray commissioning, marking another important step toward bringing this world-leading capability online. Meanwhile, construction on XLEAP continues, expanding CHESS’s reach into environmental, plant, and biological research.

Thank you to our users and staff for your dedication, hard work, and collaboration. Together, we’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with X-rays, and setting the stage for the next generation of discoveries at CHESS.

Joel Brock

Director, CHESS

Email Joel

Under Pressure: How CHESS Helped Reveal Hidden Differences in Our DNA Packaging

How does pressure affect the molecules that organize our DNA? Using high-pressure X-ray scattering at CHESS, researchers revealed surprising differences between conventional and centromeric nucleosomes. This research sheds light on how our genetic material withstands extreme conditions and stays resilient under stress.

End Station Delivery to CHESS

CHESS hit a major milestone last month with the delivery and installation of a 20-ton front end vacuum chamber for the High Magnetic Field (HMF) Beamline—the largest vacuum chamber ever deployed at the facility.

Brad Ramshaw named Experimental Physics Investigator

Cornell physicist Brad Ramshaw has been named a 2025 Experimental Physics Investigator – a prestigious national recognition awarded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to a select group of mid-career researchers pushing the boundaries of experimental physics. The award provides $1.3 million over five years to support bold, high-impact experiments that advance our fundamental understanding of the universe.