Stanford University is now touting the world's most powerful X-ray laser.
Researchers have been using the apparatus at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Menlo Park for several months, but it got its official dedication Monday with a visit from U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu.
The laser is the only one of its kind in the world. It is able to view matter on a scale of individual atoms and enables scientists to take stop-motion pictures of moving atoms and molecules.
Researchers plan to use the X-ray laser for experiments that they say may lead to new discoveries in drug development, energy production and computer science.
© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.