Attosecond X‑rays Film Electrons

Physicists at SLAC generated 60–100 attosecond X‑ray pulses—by exploiting a Rabi‑cycling split in X‑ray wavelengths—short enough to watch electron clouds move and chemical bonds form in real time. This pushes X‑ray free‑electron lasers into a regime that current femtosecond pulses cannot reach and could be extended further using heavier elements like tungsten or hafnium. — Directly imaging electron dynamics can transform how we design catalysts, semiconductors, and energy materials, influencing industrial R&D and science funding priorities.