As 2025 comes to a close, the crystallography community is already looking ahead to major meetings on the horizon. The 2026 IUCr Congress website is now live with registration open for Calgary, and we are also counting down to the Asian Crystallographic Association meeting in Taipei this December.
As we approach the end of 2025, the crystallography community is already looking ahead to some exciting gatherings on the horizon. The 2026 IUCr Congress website is live, and registration is open for what promises to be a truly global celebration of structural science in Calgary, Alberta. Meanwhile, we’re also counting down to the Asian Crystallographic Association meeting in Taipei in December.
I am happy to announce a live Rigaku School for Practical Crystallography on basic topics in crystallography from January 26 - February 6, 2026, beginning at 6 AM GMT, a time most convenient for those in the Asia Pacific region.
This month, we’re spotlighting the diverse lineup of sample holder options for the XtaLAB Synergy-ED. These are tools that continue to expand what’s possible in micro- and nano-scale structure determination. Khai walks us through advanced video camera settings in CrysAlisPro for improved crystal visualization, and Rigaku Reagents highlights the proven JCSG Core Suite for robust protein crystallization screening.
Be sure to check out the Crystallography in the News section for cutting-edge research.
Jeanette reviews Mary Roach’s Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy.
Our LinkedIn groupshares information and fosters discussion about X-ray crystallography and SAXS topics. Connect with other research groups and receive updates on how they use these techniques in their own laboratories. You can also catch up on the latest newsletter or Rigaku Journal issue. We also hope that you will share information about your own research and laboratory groups.
Atrigakuxrayforum.comyou can find discussions about software, general crystallography issues and more. It’s also the place to download the latest version of Rigaku Oxford Diffraction’sCrysAlisProsoftware for single crystal data processing.
IUCr2026: A Global Gathering for Structural Science
From August 11–18, 2026, Calgary will host the 27th Congress and General Assembly of the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr2026), bringing together crystallographers, structural scientists, and emerging researchers from across the globe. The Congress is a major platform for presenting new research, connecting with international colleagues, and advancing the future of structural science.
Abstract submissions and registration are now open, and the full list of 144+ microsymposia is available online. Preferred-rate hotel accommodations are within walking distance of the BMO Centre, and attendees can access discounted airfare through WestJet using coupon code 8O1L1CE.
To stay aligned as the Congress approaches, we encourage you to join the IUCr2026 newsletter and explore our Communications Page, which provides official updates, brand assets, and slide templates for sharing IUCr2026 within your networks.
We will be holding a live Rigaku School for Practical Crystallography on basic topics in crystallography from January 26 - February 6, 2026, beginning at 6 AM GMT and running for up to 90 minutes each day. (Use thisTime Zone converterto determine your local time.)
The majority of the time will be spent on small molecule crystallography. This is a great opportunity for people interested in crystallography who would like to gain a basic foundation of single crystal analysis from a practical point of view.
We hope that you both enjoy and gain something from this School and look forward to meeting you, virtually.
The XtaLAB Synergy-EDoffers users a glimpse into the sub-micron crystal regime with many publications now coming from the owners of these systems breaking new ground in structural research. While the XtaLAB Synergy-ED itself opens new doors in research, the system was designed for compatibility with the existing ecosystem of sample holders for transmission electron microscopes (TEMs). This compatibility further extends the capabilities of the XtaLAB Synergy-ED offering support for a range of in-situ experiments and sample environments.
Simple Origin Model 217 Cryo-Transfer Sample Holder
For samples requiring cryogenic preservation or protection from the harsh vacuum inside the electron diffractometer, the Simple Origin Model 217 cryo-transfer sample holder provides a stable, low-temperature transfer route into the diffractometer. The holder accommodates two standard 3 mm TEM grids simultaneously, allowing efficient throughput for multiple specimens. A liquid-nitrogen dewar maintains cryogenic temperature during transfer to protect sensitive crystals.
GATAN Elsa Cryo-Transfer Sample Holder
An alternative option for those needing cryo-transfer capability to protect samples. The GATAN Elsa also offers users the possibility of freezing samples outside the diffractometer to protect them from solvent loss and other effects of the electron diffraction experiment such as beam damage.
Studying phase transitions in electron diffraction necessitates accurate and fast control of the temperature at exactly the sample location. This can be achieved using chip technology, where MEMS-manufactured heating elements are placed near the crystals under study. The Hummingbird Scientific Heating/Biasing holdercombines agile and accurate temperature control up to 1000°C with unmatched ease of use. Additionally, electric or electrostatic fields can be applied.
Hummingbird Scientific 1580 Series Air-Free Transfer Sample Holder
The air-free transfer holder enables the secure transfer of samples prepared in a glove box or under inert gas directly into the XtaLAB Synergy-ED without exposure to air or moisture. This capability is particularly useful for reactive materials, including organometallic complexes, air-sensitive MOFs, and lithium-containing compounds. By maintaining an inert atmosphere throughout handling, the holder preserves sample integrity from preparation to data collection.
Insight Chips Liquid Nano-Channel Sample Holder
For samples grown or maintained in solution, the liquid nano-channel sample holder is available as a flow or static version and provides a means to perform electron diffraction within a confined liquid environment. Crystals can be nucleated and analyzed in situ, inside micro-fabricated channels. This holder additionally allows the structural characterization of processes such as solvent exchange or solvent dependent crystallization kinetics and dynamics. This approach extends the applicability of the XtaLAB Synergy-ED to many fields where the solvent and its interaction with the crystal is an important factor.
Hummingbird 1300 Series Gas-Cell Sample Holder
The gas-cell holder allows experiments to be conducted under controlled gas environments, making it suitable for structural studies involving adsorption, catalysis, or phase transitions. Samples can be exposed to reactive or inert gases at defined pressures and temperatures while remaining compatible with the XtaLAB Synergy-ED’s diffraction geometry. This holder opens opportunities for examining structural changes under working conditions, for example in MOF chemistry.
Summary
Together, these holder options extend the flexibility of the XtaLAB Synergy-ED platform to address an exceptionally wide variety of sample types—from cryogenic biological crystals and air-sensitive solids to solution-grown or gas-reactive materials. By supporting diverse experimental environments within a single instrument framework, the XtaLAB Synergy-ED enables researchers to pursue structure determination under conditions that best reflect their samples’ true states.
TheJCSG Core Suite is designed to give you the strongest possible start in protein crystallization. Inspired by the Joint Center for Structural Genomics (JCSG), this screen offers a diverse range of chemistries to help you identify promising crystallization hits quickly and efficiently.
Why researchers choose the JCSG Core Suite: • Broad coverage of pH, salts, and precipitants • Optimized for both soluble and membrane proteins • Proven performance in structural genomics pipelines
Whether you’re setting up your first screen or fine-tuning conditions for a challenging target, the JCSG Core Suite provides the reliable foundation you need for crystallization success.
Available products:
1009842 — JCSG Core Suite 1 1009843 — JCSG Core Suite 2 1009844 — JCSG Core Suite 3 1009845 — JCSG Core Suite 4
Also, check out our JCSG+, JCSG Top96, and JCSG Top96 Cryo screens for even more crystallization screening opportunities.
The advanced video camera settings in CrysAlisPro allow you to fine-tune the visualization when the standard lighting setup, with top illumination directed at the sample and backlighting from beneath the goniometer, combined with the current camera settings, does not provide a clear enough view of the crystal for centering. These advanced options also allow you to save customized configurations for specific applications such as photocrystallography, light-sensitive samples, or use with the XtalCheck-S, and to import the appropriate settings whenever needed.
How do I use it?
Open the online version of CrysAlisPro. To access the [Crystal Video] interface, press F12 on your keyboard or select Start/Stop, then Start New, and choose Mount. Next, click the Settings button. If you are using an Intelligent Goniometer Head, you will need to also click Video Settings. This will open the [AVT Camera Settings] window, which initially provides only a limited set of options. To unlock additional settings, press Alt + E simultaneously on your keyboard.
Figure 1. Access to all settings within the [AVT Camera Settings] GUI.
Several individual parameters, such as gain, exposure, frame rate, white balance, and pixel format, can be adjusted either automatically or manually, while others are available for manual adjustment only (see Figure 1, right). The settings shown above represent an example from our laboratory’s demo instrument; however, they may vary between laboratories and users depending on individual preferences. Different video camera configurations can be saved and later recalled using the Export Settings and Import Settings options.
By default, for example after a new installation, the [Crystal Video] window appears relatively small, which can make manual crystal centering more difficult, particularly when working with small crystals. Adjusting the binning from 2×2 (software) to 1×1 increases the display size of the video camera image (see Figure 2), improving visibility during centering.
Figure 2. Effect of binning: (top) 2x2(software), (bottom) 1x1.
In the case of light sensitive samples, all light sources inside the diffractometer, including the cabinet, sample, and goniometer lights, should be switched off. This will cause the [Crystal Video] screen to appear completely black. To visualize the crystal mounted on the loop, open the [AVT Camera Settings] window, set the gain to its maximum value of 30, and increase the exposure time (for example, to 5000 ms; see Figure 3, right).
Figure 3. Different video camera settings depending on the crystals’ sensitivity: (left) normal mode, (right) light-sensitive mode.
Note: Please do not forget to switch back to the standard lab settings (not default) after your experiment has finished.
Crystals in the News
September 9, 2025
A 100,000-Fold Increase in C–H Bond Acidity Gives Palladium a Key Advantage in C(sp3)–H Activation Compared to Nickel.
As ever, Mary Roach’s latest book, Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy, a collection of investigations into regenerative medicine, delivers her signature blend of dedicated reporting and empathetic journalism. The cutting-edge technologies Roach explores range from nasal reconstruction to cataract surgery to Brazilian Butt Lifts to organ transplantation. Replaceable You showcases Roach’s ability to find humor in a seemingly humorless subject matter while maintaining respect for her sources, their research, and their patients.
Due to the subject matter and Roach’s attention to descriptive detail, Replaceable You might not be the best fit for a more squeamish reader. That said, each chapter is a self-enclosed exploration of regenerative medical technology. So, if reading about cataract surgery really turns your stomach, you can just skip that chapter and read the rest and you won’t know what you are missing (it’s a fascinating chapter though, just read it!).
Roach’s dedication to her work, and the humanity she breathes into every chapter, is delightfully refreshing in an era where it seems like everything online is someone AI-generated or AI-augmented. Her efforts to interact not only with these researchers at the forefront of their fields but also with patients who have benefited from their work bring a requisite level of empathy to Replaceable You that really cannot be replaced by any modern technology.
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