Testing how accurately X-ray lasers can measure the inner workings of biological molecules
(PHYSorg.com Physics)

One of the great advantages of X-ray free-electron lasers like the one at the Department of Energy`s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is that they allow researchers to determine the structure of biological molecules in natural environments. This is important if you want to study how a potential new drug interacts with a virus in conditions similar to those found in the human body. By hitting these samples with ultrashort X-ray laser pulses, scientists can collect data in the instant before damage from the X-rays has time to propagate through the sample.