December 2025
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Season's Greetings from the Core Facilities
As the year draws to a close, we celebrate the discoveries, collaborations and innovations that make research matter. Every breakthrough — big or small — moves us closer to a brighter future. Thank you for being part of a community that turns curiosity into progress.
Research Matters
Research is the invisible hand that powers America’s progress. It unlocks discoveries and creates opportunity. It develops new technologies and new ways of doing things — discoveries that change the world and make America the world’s leading economic power
The Core Research Facilities are honored to support ASU’s research efforts in creating technologies, medicines and public policy that improve the lives of all Americans, and keeps us competitive with the rest of the world.
Our impact and meaningful research
The Core Research Facilities support research spanning from microelectronics R&D and space exploration to human performance and beyond. In this month’s newsletter, we want to share the impact we have had on meaningful research.
Success of SolarSPELL
Instrument Design and Fabrication (IDF) Core team members Dan Saine (ret.) and Brian Ipema worked with SolarSPELL co-founders Laura Hosman and Bruce Baikie, helping develop custom electronics for their digital library.
Saine and Ipema were honored to have supported the project, knowing that many people around the world would benefit from the success of the SolarSPELL Initiative.
Compact X-ray laser reaches key milestone
Researchers from the Compact X-ray Free Electron Laser (CXFEL) project have achieved a major breakthrough — solving their first protein structures using the compact X-ray light source (CXLS). The success marks a critical step toward making X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) technology smaller, more affordable and accessible to more scientists worldwide.
ASU’s Instrument Design and Fabrication Core played a key role, manufacturing thousands of CXLS components. Operations director Brian Ipema was recognized at an NSF ceremony when the CXFEL project received ASU’s largest-ever research grant — $90.8 million.
See how this milestone is shaping the future of molecular discovery.
Celebrating one year since Europa Clipper's launch
Oct. 14, 2025, marked one year since the launch of NASA’s Europa Clipper, featuring the E-THEMIS, an instrument developed by Professor Phil Christensen’s team. The IDF Core played a key role in this milestone — manufacturing several of the mission’s flight components.
This project also represented a major achievement for the IDF team, as it was one of the first completed after the IDF shop earned its AS9100D certification, a rigorous standard for aerospace manufacturing quality.
See a stunning NASA Mars image captured by E-THEMIS.
Clinical Corner
Arizona marathoner Jess McClain, who finished in 8th place at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo trained in the Clinical Research Services environment chamber. She worked with CRS exercise physiologist Ellie Iwersen in sweat tests to help determine her fueling strategy on race day.
See what they have to say about their experience in this interview with FOX 10.
Joke of the month
Joke of the month
Two atoms having a conversation.
Atom 1 says "Oh no! I think I lost an electron!
Atom 2 says "Are you sure?"
Atom 1 says "Yes, I'm positive!"
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