This issue marks the 50th anniversary of the first observation of synchrotron radiation light from the General Electric 70 MeV synchrotron and coincides with the third anniversary of the Journal of Synchrotron Radiation (JSR). The issue brings together review articles from some of the pioneers of the field and in our view forms a unique historical record. The interdisciplinary nature of synchro...

Apoptosis and necroptosis are 2 major, yet distinct, forms of regulated cell death. Whereas apoptosis requires caspase protease function, necroptosis requires activation of the receptor interacting protein kinases 1 (RIPK1) and RIPK3. Following activation, RIPK3 phosphorylates mixed-lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL), leading to cell death. Apoptosis and necroptosis are deeply intertwined such t...