ScienceSeptember 4, 2026

synchrotron

SING-kruh-tron

Definition

A large, powerful particle accelerator that uses electromagnetic fields to speed up subatomic particles, often utilized to produce high-intensity X-rays for imaging scientific specimens.

Etymology

The word is a portmanteau derived from 'synchronous' (occurring at the same time) and 'cyclotron' (a type of particle accelerator), reflecting how the particle's speed is synchronized with the electromagnetic fields that guide it.

In the news

The article describes the use of a high-resolution synchrotron to scan the skull of 'Little Foot' with X-rays, enabling a detailed digital reconstruction of the fossil's facial structure.

Digital reconstruction reveals a nearly 4 million-year-old human ancestor

Read the full article ↗

Scripps News

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