It is a rare moment in the history of science when a new capability is born that transforms our ability to "see" what is happening in the world in which we live. The use of the light emitted from accelerating electrons as they are bent by magnetic fields that was pioneered at SSRL in the 1970s is not just another example of this, but arguably is the most important development in the history of science in enabling us to "see" the world of electrons and atoms. There is, in addition, a special feature of the new capability enabled by synchrotron radiation: it is likely to remain, in the future, the best way to see the microscopic world forever. This is because the light used to "see" does not only have all the intensity one needs, but also because all its properties can be adjusted so as to provide the ideal illumination for the particular thing one wants to "see." Thus, literally what was born at SSRL, which has since then been and will be continually improved, will forever provide our species the ability to "see" and understand the microscopic world in which we live.
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