Phys.org has reported:

Researchers used the European XFEL to create attosecond hard X-ray flashes with record intensity for this type of pulse. They focused the X-rays into an area about 100,000 times smaller than the cross section of a typical human hair, concentrating the light into a tiny, powerful spot.

The technique could allow detailed study of how electrons behave in atoms and molecules. In the longer term, it may enable researchers to control electrons during chemical reactions.

The experiment took place in April 2026, and the team has now published its results in the journal Optica.