World's largest, most powerful X-ray laser begins operations
Germany-based European XFEL, the largest and most powerful X-ray laser in the world, has officially begun research operations. The 3.4-km-long underground laser can generate up to 27,000 pulses per second, 200 times more than other X-ray lasers. Scientists will use the $1.4-billion facility to map 3D structure of molecules and study the progress of chemical reactions for developing new medicines.