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S T E M I N C U R R E N T E V E N T S

be used to examine tiny particles of matter, down to the atoms and molecules. Scientists employ this technology to study soil.

A Canadian study using synchrotron light looked at how dif- ferent nitrogen fertilizers affected the chemistry of soil. This is important, since nitrogen fertilizers are often applied to enrich soils, but they can have long-lasting environmental effects. The

This massive machine is a synchrotron. As light is whirled throughout its thousands of feet of tubes, scientists can test how that light affects soil and other materials.