Synchrotron radiation has become a powerful tool for studying unique ancient artifacts such as works of art and fossils. In the last decade, the structures of these historical materials have been revealed on a micro and nanometric scale, helping a variety of areas to understand the past and to learn how to preserve these relics.

The Higher European Research Course for Users of Large Experimental Systems (Hercules), a training course for doctors and post-doctors in the field of synchrotron radiation, celebrates its 20^th year with a Latin-American edition, the first outside of the European continent. The course is being conducted at the Brazilian Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (LNLS), in Campinas, between July 12 and 30, with the participation of 63 Brazilian and Latin-American researchers.

Brazil expects Argentina’s collaboration in the construction of a new synchrotron radiation source. On January 31, 2011, the Ministers of Science and Technology of the two countries, Aloizio Mercadante and Lino Barañao, met in Buenos Aires to sign a memorandum of understanding for the joint development of projects in the fields of accelerator physics, beamlines and experimental workstations for the new equipment to be installed at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light  Laboratory (LNLS) in Campinas (SP).

Four of the 37 thesis of PhD laureate in the 2010 edition of the Marechal-do-ar Casimiro Montenegro Filho award, conferred by the Strategic Affairs Secretariat of the Presidency (SAE), were based on researches conducted on the premises of the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS), in Campinas. The LNLS houses the only  source of Synchrotron Radiation  in  Latin America and it is used by the scientific and technological community for  research in the fields of nanoscience, advanced materials, drugs, alternative energy, and others.

Nineteen Brazilian and 64 foreign researchers from 24 countries are listed  to get together at Brazil’s National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (LNLS) in Campinas from January 17 to 25 to view the most recent advances in the use of synchrotron radiation and its applications in scientific research.

The Brazilian Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (LNLS) performs with success its first experiment with remote operation: on June 2, a group of researchers of Petrobras, LNLS and other research facilities, gathered at the Brazilian Physics Research Center (CBPF), in Rio de Janeiro, to performsome experiments  remotely using, synchrotron beamlines, in Campinas.