[mtbopfuyn]

The team have until the 7 August this year to scrutinise the palimpsest, before the synchrotron is switched off for maintenance. During that time they hope to scan between 12 and 14 pages, paying particular attention to the areas covered with the forged paintings.

Turning the machine off in the middle of the research is just plain silly but not getting it back until who knows when or if is beyond ridiculous.

[fso301]

Turning the machine off in the middle of the research is just plain silly but not getting it back until who knows when or if is beyond ridiculous.

In order that scientific/historic discovery continues taking place, scheduled equipment maintenance takes priority.

[dread78645]

Turning the machine off in the middle of the research is just plain silly but not getting it back until who knows when or if is beyond ridiculous.

Cornell doesn't have the synchrotron, Stanford does. Cornell is just renting/borrowing time on it.
The machine "belongs" to the Dept. of Energy (you & me); Stanford just schedules blocks of research time based on whatever agreement they have with the DOE.
If Cornell wants more time they can get back in line at SSRL or find another lab.

[discostu]

Welcome to life in science. Especially sciences that have more people than necessary equipment. Every astronomer has to put up with the same thing, they schedule telescope time months, even years out, then there’s a cloudy night, too bad, here’s how to reschedule.