Are there any famous examples of discoveries thanks to synchrotron radiation?
Yes. Giant magneto-resistance, the phenomenon behind portable mp3 players, was studied using synchrotrons. The anti-flu drug Tamiflu was developed using synchrotron based research, and the structure of the Foot & Mouth virus was successfully mapped on a synchrotron. Synchrotrons have also been used to monitor the air at Ground Zero following the attacks on the World Trade Centre, to study the degradation of the Dead Sea scrolls and to investigate properties of materials on an atomic and molecular scale.
