Set in the hills of Echo Park, a bungalow, designed by OWIU, is a serene yet versatile space that integrates natural beauty with modern living.

by Wm. Steven Humphrey

If you’re reading this, you probably know the value of the Mercury’s news reporting, arts and culture coverage, event calendar, and the bevy of events we host throughout the year. The work we do helps our city shine, but we can’t do it without your support. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!

GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! ????

Look, it's time for two things: VOTING and NAIL-BITING. We're T-minus five days from the November 5 election, so (if you haven't already) it's time to fill out your ballot! Need help? Then check out the Mercury's Election Issue (in more than 500 spots around town) which comes complete with all our endorsements AND our handy-dandy voter cheat sheet! I can't help you with the nail-biting... but I can provide some NEWS.

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• Police have revealed more about the Ballot Box Bomber (igniter?) who dropped incendiary devices into election boxes in Portland (harming three ballots) and Vancouver (destroying 475). Cops previously identified the make and model of the car—a Volvo S60—and says the suspect is likely a "Caucasian male, 30-40 years of age, very short hair or balding, thin to medium build, thin face, wearing a dark shirt, highly knowledgeable in both metal fabrication and welding." A reward of $2,500 has been offered for information that leads to the arrest of the individual, who police say may strike again. 

• In other election news, city leaders are freaking out over the possibility of civil unrest on election night if an authoritarian despot takes office with the intent of dismantling democracy and making life a living hell for anyone other than his supporters (which is to say, wealthy business leaders and Christian nationalists). Portland Police officers plan to work 12 hour shifts starting on election day, outgoing DA Mike Schmidt is promising criminal prosecutions for those who commit violence and/or the destruction of property, and the county is freeing up jail beds. And of course, Portland's shadow mayor—Andrew Hoan of the Portland Metro Chamber (AKA Portland Business Alliance)—is once again being platformed by local media, and blaming protesters for Portland's shitty reputation when it was his own allies in the millionaire and political class who in 2020 cried like babies to Fox News and the New York Times that Portland was "dead" and a hellhole, because they weren't getting the tax breaks they felt they were entitled to. Reminder that while there definitely a small group of violent a-holes mixed in with the thousands who were righteously protesting police violence against people of color, most of the so-called riots were not riots, and that these cynical attempts by the city (and its business rulers) to curb free speech is exactly why we don't want Trump in office. Stop being fooled.

Independent Audit: Portland has done almost no oversight of business districts that could criminalize homelessness

Lame duck City Council: Let’s give them a 10 year contract extension!

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— Portland for All (@PDXforAll) October 30, 2024

• Oregon's largest gas utility, NW Natural, is on the receiving end of two lawsuits alleging they use greenwashing tactics to hide the negative environmental impact of natural gas, while knowingly disenfranchising customers and contributing to the climate crisis. Our Taylor Griggs has the details.

Oregon’s first romance-only bookstore is now open in Portland https://t.co/vRKgRyRWa9

— Ryan Haas (@ryanjhaas) October 31, 2024

• Big news: Our own Rose City Rollers derby team will be hosting the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association Global Championships this weekend, right here in Portland! Our Rollers will also be competing for their fifth straight championship win. Trust me, I've attended one of these championships and they are a goddamn BLAST. Interested in going, and learning more RCR's very interesting history? Check out this banger of a story from our own Courtney Vaughn.

• Oh, and HAPPY HALLOWEEN (to those in my coven who celebrate). For those planning on trick-or-treating tonight, you better find matching raincoat to go with your Sexy Chipotle Fork costume—the weather forecast calls for steady rain during the prime candy grabbin' hours.

Looking for fun on election night? Join your friends at Mississippi Studios for the Mercury's official election night watch party—hosted by the hilarious Alex Falcone and Shain Brenden! (And what? IT'S FREE!)https://t.co/OXyBltoyPr

— Portland Mercury ???? (@portlandmercury) October 29, 2024

IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:

• And because it's impossible to think about anything else, here's your roundup of ELECTION HEADLINES:

"Trump says he would 'protect' women, 'whether the women like it or not'"  • "Dems see signs for optimism in gender gap in early vote" • "At least a quarter million cancel Washington Post subscriptions after non-endorsement, report says" • "MAGA activists say the election is rigged, vow to overturn the results if Trump loses" • "Trump and Johnson hand Democrats an 11th-hour lifeline" • "Election officials are outmatched by Elon Musk’s misinformation machine" • "Trump transition official says RFK Jr. wants to force vaccines off the market" • "Harris’s momentum in California energizes House Democrats, rattles GOP"

President Biden and ... guess who ?! ????
First Lady Jill Biden dressed as a panda for a White House Halloween event @WUSA9 pic.twitter.com/NvFLgt1x4j

— Lorenzo Hall (@LorenzoHall) October 31, 2024

• The Los Angeles Dodgers are the newest World Series champions after defeating the New York Yankees 7-6 last night in a five game series. It was a stunning comeback for the Dodgers who were behind 5-0 in the third inning before the Yankees committed three errors and the Dodgers came roaring back in the fifth and eighth innings to seal the deal. 

• In a show of impotent masculinity, North Korea launched a test of their new long-range test missile that has the ability to reach the US mainland. The test launch was in obvious response to Washington's announcement that the North Korean dictatorship was sending troops to Ukraine to aid the Russians.

SNL is Brat https://t.co/EMld5xBEU6

— Pitchfork (@pitchfork) October 31, 2024

• A blast from the somewhat recent past (though it feels like a million years ago): The star of Tiger King, Joe Exotic, has announced he is engaged to a fellow inmate in a Texas prison, where he's serving a 21-year stretch for hiring a hitman to kill competitor Carole Baskin, as well as multiple counts of wildlife crimes. 

• And finally... if this actually happened at museums—I WOULD GO ALL THE TIME.

@anakins85 #thedramaisreal #grabsomepopcorn #thatsart ♬ original sound - All ???? No Shade!

by Wm. Steven Humphrey

GOOD MORNING, SUNDAY! It's the perfect time to catch up on some of the great reporting and stories the Mercury churned out this week! (PRO TIP: If you despise being "the last to know," then be one of the first to know by signing up for Mercury newsletters! All the latest stories shipped directly to your email's in-box... and then... YOUR HEAD.)

• Keith Wilson is Portland’s Next Mayor

Wilson will be Portland's next mayor. Did your fave city council candidates make the cut? Check out our reporting and find out! We've got the latest updates.

• It's the Mercury's 2024 General Election Night Live Blog!

Relive election night (in an entertaining fashion) with the Mercury's election live blog, featuring up-to-the-minute results and stern critiques of the candidate parties and snack tables. 

• How Portland’s Rose City Rollers Became Roller Derby Champions Again

Last Sunday, the Rose City Rollers' all-star team Wheels of Justice won derby's highest honor at the Women's Flat Track Derby Association Global Championship. Corbin Smith recounts: It was sports. Major sports.

• City Commissioners Abandon Plans to Terminate Joint Homeless Response Agreement With Multnomah County

A day after an election showing City Commissioners Rene Gonzalez and Mingus Mapps losing their bid for mayor, a proposal to end Portland's homeless services agreement with Multnomah County was suddenly pulled from this week's City Council agenda.

• Ticket Alert

Sting adds a second Bend date to his tour, post-hardcore band Chiodos is coming to Portland next year, and hard rock outfit Catch Your Breath has dropped dates for their Broken Souls tour. Get those tix quick with help from TICKET ALERT.

• THE TRASH REPORT!

This week: The Avengers love Kamala, Nazis love Trump, and Ted Danson is back in love with Kelsey Grammer. (So much love!)

• Film Review: Allee Willis: Creative Force, 'Dangerous Woman,' Songwriter Behind Friends Theme

A new documentary, The World According to Allee Willis, reveals your favorite artists’ favorite artist.

• Free Ticket Time!

Like free stuff? Then enter to WIN FREE TICKETS to see Reverend Horton Heat, Des Demonas, Mason Jennings, and MORE! 

• The Best Things To Do in Portland This Month

As we do every month, we've compiled the biggest events you need to know about in every genre, from Sabrina Carpenter to Cyndi Lauper and from World Vegan Month to PLUS PLUS: PAM CUT's New Annual Festival. It's our top picks for November!

• SAVAGE LOVE

Straight women in gay bars, post-sex ghosting, and return of the sexy fling—all this and much, much more in this edition of SAVAGE LOVE quickies!

WOW, THAT IS A LOT OF GOOD READIN'. I hope you didn't have any other plans this weekend! Dig in, and remember: Producing all this hard work costs moolah—so please consider contributing to the Mercury to keep it all coming! Thanks!

Another morning of dense fog that will dissipate, paving the way for sunny skies Thursday. Gentle breezes with temperatures expected to reach the upper 40s, close to 50 degrees.

Don't be surprised if you see fewer chocolate treats in your trick-or-treating loot. Customers are souring on costly chocolate, resulting from a few disappointing cocoa crop years.

Older homes are the only ones many Americans can afford, but they are costly to fix and maintain, especially for seniors. A patchwork of programs to help are underfunded and have years-long waitlists.

Rolf Nordstrom, president and CEO of the nonpartisan nonprofit Great Plains Institute, and Gregg Mast, executive director of Clean Energy Economy Minnesota, weigh in on what the election results will mean for the energy transition already underway.

Known to millions as the drummer of the Grammy Award-winning band Hootie & the Blowfish, Jim “Soni” Sonefeld once appeared to have it all — a successful career, a loving family and a public image that masked his private struggles. Beneath the surface, however, he grappled with inner demons.

“Full House” alum Candace Cameron Bure has encouraged her followers to “vote like Jesus” on Election Day as the race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris nears the finish line.

COVID-19 has been hard on just about every industry in New Hampshire, and renewable energy is no exception. People worried about money are putting off investing in solar panels, and health concerns have made home energy efficiency visits more complicated. But scientists say investments like these can lower energy costs, and remain a critical way to combat the other big crisis we’re facing – climate change. As part of NHPR’s new climate change reporting project, By Degrees , NHPR’s Annie Ropeik has been trying to find out what might be ahead for the renewable energy industry in the state. Morning Edition Host Rick Ganley spoke with her about what’s next.

It’s a gloomy, rainy Sunday in downtown Portsmouth. I’m hanging out in a dark basement beneath a bookstore waiting to see a creepy Halloween music show for kids. Dozens of children dressed in their Halloween finest crowd the room. There are princesses and superheroes. An elephant finds a seat next to a dinosaur as the show is about to begin. (Editor's note: we highly recommend listening to this story.) Doctor Gasp is dressed in a long black cape with a white skeleton mask covering his face. Jack-o-lanterns cast orange light across a makeshift stage. He gives a lively performance, jumping and dancing while playing his guitar. The kids get up to dance along with him. Monster Mash is a crowd favorite of course. I sat down with Doctor Gasp after the show to find out who he is behind the mask. Dan Blakeslee is actually a folk singer for most of the year. When he first started writing Halloween music, he would play under his own name at his regular shows. “But then it got to be at the point

This is a test of American resolve, a test of whether we will keep our commitments to our NATO allies and to our allies in Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan or whether we will shrink back into the neo-isolationism that was a catalyst for world war a century ago.

The Columbus Blue Jackets start a new season Thursday night. The Jackets open the season at home inside Nationwide Arena against the Boston Bruins, and expectations are down following a 2015-2016 season that ended with the Jackets as one of the league's worst teams.

459 infections and 178 deaths is the latest information coming out of Angola, where an outbreak of Yellow Fever was first reported in the capital city, Luanda, in December 2015, the first outbreak of the disease in three decades, and has now spread out to ten of the country's eighteen provinces. Worse, the outbreak is reaching neighboring countries, with cases reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Namibia. Other cases in Kenya and the People's Republic of China have been described as travel-related cases with links to Angola. A massive vaccination campaign was launched by the health authorities and the National Response Plan saw 87 per cent of the targeted 6.4 million people at risk vaccinated, as 7.3 million doses of the vaccine were made available with help from countries such as Brazil, the World Health Organization and the International Coordinating Group for yellow fever vaccine provision.

Rose has always been considered one of the most beautiful and popular flowers, belonging to the queen of flowers. However, there is a rival in the world that has won the hearts of many beauty connoisseurs, and that is the peony. Cultivated varieties of peonies are well known to florists, gardeners, and landscape design professionals. At the same time, wild peonies, which are no less impressive, are not as well known and not as popular. As for Russia, 15 species of wild peonies can be found here. Peonies have been famous for their unique beauty for many centuries and are often mentioned in legends and myths. One such legend is associated with the goddess Flora. The legend says that when the goddess was preparing to go on a long journey, she ordered her subordinates to find a worthy replacement for her. Many thought that the only possible substitute for Flora could be the beautiful rose. It was to her that the goddess entrusted the leadership of the plant kingdom. But only the peony opposed this divine decision, not recognizing the rose as its superior competitor. In response to the protests and disrespectful behavior of the peony, the goddess expressed her anger in a rage: "Let butterflies and bees never visit you!" In Russia, peonies grow in the Far East, Transbaikalia, the middle strip, and the Caucasus. In May-June, peony flowers begin to bloom, emitting a sweet substance that attracts ants and other insects. Ants often protect the plant from pests, acting as its defenders. Thus, peonies were able to bypass the curse of the goddess Flora!

About 4,500 people have been injured as a result of explosions of communication devices that took place in Lebanon. It was Hezbollah members' pager devices that started blowing up first on September 17. The following day, explosions continued, although it was not just pagers, but walkie-talkies, laptops, radios, smartphones, fingerprinting devices and solar-powered units that started exploding. Israel was not the first state to have used remote detonation of communication devices. In fact, a description of such a technology can be found in Pentagon documents from 50 years ago. Israel previously used remotely detonated communication devices in its military operations. For example, one of the leaders of Hamas movement, Yahya Ayyash, received a phone with an explosive planted in it. The devices that exploded in Lebanon were from a new batch These and other cases have one thing in common: the devices that exploded in Lebanon on September 17 and 18 had explosives installed in them in advance.

In the aftermath of a car accident, your actions count. Doing the 'right' things can increase your safety and the safety of the people around you, get you the medical attention you need, and increase your chances of winning compensation. Staying Calm Unfortunately, many people are overwhelmed by the emotional turmoil and trauma of a car accident, rendering them incapable of acting rationally. This is somewhat understandable; after a car accident, you may be in shock, your adrenaline might be surging, and you might be in a great deal of physical pain.  However, it’s important to stay as calm and rational as possible. If you can, take a deep breath, focus on your next objective, and try not to overthink the situation.

Alexander Perendzhiev, a member of the expert council of Russian Officers, candidate of political sciences, gave his assessment to the warning from American analysts about the likelihood of NATO troops entering Ukraine. According to him, the direct intervention of the United States and the North Atlantic Alliance in the Russian special operation in Ukraine will change the course of the operation and provoke a full-scale war with Russia. The presence of American and NATO military personnel on the territory of a neighboring country is a threat to the existence of the Russian Federation as a state, the political scientist explained. In this case, Moscow will resort to nuclear weapons, he stressed.

America woke up in shock Wednesday morning to maps of a red United States.  Donald Trump had pulled off the unthinkable.  He won by a landslide instead of a tight squeaker.   Think about it, Trump has been indicted 91 times!  We saw him sitting in court and then convicted.  He was impeached twice while president.  Many think he tried to thwart democracy by declaring the 2020 election had been stolen.  He said he had fallen in love with Kim Jong Un.  He openly praised Turkey's Orban.  He hurled defamatory slurs at his opponents that were unthinkable.  He said immigrants were eating cats and dogs.  They accused him of leading an insurrection.  And, this man, Donald J. Trump won the American presidency by a landslide.  What to make of this?  The Democrats need to do some deep soul-searching.   The Democrats hid from the American people the fact that Joe Biden was in cognitive decline. We could clearly see it, yet their media mouthpieces said he was "sharp as a tack" with "energy to spare."  One week before the election, Kamala was asked why she did not say something about Biden's decline, and she replied that he was not in decline. Immigation is a top concern of Americans. When Haris was asked about our southern border, she responded that we had no problem there; it was under control. She lost credibility by playing loose with the truth.  

Designated Doctor Case-Based Webinar Series: Module 4 - Lower Extremity MMI and IR

Utimaco has released new consumer research that has found a low level of trust around Internet of Things (IoT) devices. This has highlighted the need for more education from industry into how smart devices are secured with the latest digital security solutions.

The trend of purchasing refurbished IT equipment is on the rise among MSPs. A significant majority of 84% have admitted to buying refurbished technology in the past, while about 30% are currently making such purchases.

New data from Demica, the fintech, reveals that the paper packaging sector in key markets across Europe and North America is showing signs of stabilisation.

With Halloween coinciding with school half-term and the religious festival of Diwali this year, UK shoppers embraced spooky season, delivering a boost to in-store shopper traffic, the latest data from Sensormaic Solutions, the leading retail traffic consulting and analytics group from Johnson Controls, shows.

Online retailers saw a significant increase in online Halloween sales, bolstered by the event (31 Oct) falling during school half-term as well as coinciding with Diwali, according to data from Wunderkind, the AI-driven performance marketing solution.

Smart Volution is launching a new addition to its Register family of POS solutions at the National Convenience Show at the NEC Birmingham on the 25th to the 27th of April 2022.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine plan to strike important targets in Russia with 600-km Storm Shadow cruise missiles, sources at US intelligence services say. The selected targets allegedly include: the fleet in Novorossiysk; the presidential residence in Sochi; the air defense system in Sevastopol; defense and gunpowder factories; headquarters located from the south of Russia to Moscow; Moscow and St. Petersburg; transport interchanges used for the traffic of military equipment and fuel for the Russian army. It was earlier reported that Paris discussed a possibility to allow the Armed Forces of Ukraine to strike Vladimir Putin's residence in Sochi, as well as military facilities deep in Russia. Earlier, The Telegraph and The Guardian also reported that the UK authorized Storm Shadow strikes on Russian territory without official public approval.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine blew up the Ternovskaya dam of the Kurakhovo Reservoir, strana.ua said in its Telegram channel. Russian military pages reported the same.  "Apparently, the AFU decided to blow up the facility in order to slow down the advance of the Russian army,” authors of War Correspondents of the Russian Spring Telegram channel said.

A research team has identified 2,586 orphan genes (OGs) in Rosa chinensis, offering new insights into the role of these unique genes in flower development, stress response, and environmental adaptation.

Case Western Reserve University has a new offer for the 25 to 30 students each year who are named finalists for the prestigious Hertz Fellowship but are not ultimately selected as Hertz Fellows: matriculate at CWRU and receive full financial benefits.

A research team has identified 2,586 orphan genes (OGs) in Rosa chinensis, offering new insights into the role of these unique genes in flower development, stress response, and environmental adaptation.

[Domestic] :
Medical students will be allowed to take a leave of absence as long as the request is for personal reasons.   The education ministry revealed the decision on Tuesday after holding a closed-door meeting with the presidents of 40 universities that have medical schools.   Previously, medical students were ...

[more...]

[Sports] :
Culture minister Yu In-chon has reiterated that he will not approve the fourth term of Korea Football Association(KFA) President Chung Mong-gyu.  Yu revealed the stance on Monday during the parliamentary culture committee’s inspection of government agencies when asked whether he will grant approval ...

[more...]

Blue and yellow flags are common among national and state flags, and the blue and yellow color combinations often symbolize nature.

Halloween is around the corner, and it’s time to brainstorm the best group costume ideas for you and your friends. Whether you’re going to a Halloween party, trick-or-treating or entering a costume contest, the key to success is creativity, coordination and a dash of humor.

We've all been there: Spooky season has arrived, and you don't have any costume ideas for Halloween. Whether you're a casual fan of the holiday who is looking for a good Halloween costume, or a long time devotee of All Hallow's Eve who wants to top last year's effort, we've got you covered with some great Halloween costume ideas.

[Economy] :
The Korea Development Institute(KDI) has recommended further easing of monetary policy tightening as it forecast that the slowdown in inflation will continue for the time being.  The state-run think tank made the recommendation in a report released on Monday that analyzed recent price fluctuation factors ...

[more...]

[Economy] :
South Korea’s benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index(KOSPI) slipped below the two-thousand-500 threshold on Tuesday for the first time since August’s “Black Monday.” The KOSPI dipped 49-point-09 points, or one-point-94 percent, on Tuesday to close at two-thousand-482-point-57. In the ...

[more...]

[Economy] :
The nation added 83-thousand jobs in October, with job growth falling below 100-thousand for the first time in four months.  According to Statistics Korea on Wednesday, the number of employed people stood at 28-point-eight million last month, up 83-thousand from the same month last year. Job growth fell ...

[more...]

[Economy] :
South Korea’s tech-laden KOSDAQ fell below the 700 mark during trading for the first time in two months.  As of 10:12 a.m. Wednesday, the secondary KOSDAQ market stood at 697-point-94, down 12-point-58 points or one-point-77 percent from the previous day.  It marks the first time the KOSDAQ has ...

[more...]

Mineral resource security and flows  British Geological Survey

New research supports conservation of fallow deer across Europe  British Geological Survey

BGS scientist announced as Scottish Government policy fellow  British Geological Survey

1,2-Bis(3,5-di­methyl-2-thienyl)perfluoro­cyclo­pentene formed its own spherulites by sublimation onto the hydro­philic surfaces of the (0001) planes of α-quartz and sapphire substrates. The formation of different morphologies of these spherulites was attributed to the surface properties of each substrate. Depending on the morphology of the spherulites, hollow rod crystals with cross sections of different sizes and shapes and branching structures were generated on the surfaces of the spherulites.

Low-concentration poly(ethylene oxide) exhibit the polymorph-dependent effects on both the surface and bulk crystal growth of carbamazepine polymorphs. These polymorph-dependent effects of PEO were mainly attributed to the polymer enrichment at the interface and different crystal surface-polymer interactions.

Sublimation methods utilizing the surface properties of substrates can address the challenge of controlling hollow morphologies in rod crystals. Spherulites were formed on the hydrophilic surface of the (0001) planes of α-quartz and sapphire substrates by sublimation of 1,2-bis(3,5-dimethyl-2-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (1a). Various types of hollow morphologies, distinguished by the size and shape of their cross sections and by the presence or absence of branching structures, were formed separately on α-quartz and sapphire substrates. Such precise control of the hollow morphologies was attributed to the wettability of each substrate, leading to the formation of spherulites of 1a. In addition, it was indicated that the formation process of the surface morphologies of spherulites was associated with the hollow morphologies of rod crystals of 1a.

Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) is a rapidly growing structural biology modality that has been successful in revealing molecular details of biological systems. However, unlike established biophysical and analytical techniques with calibration standards, cryoEM has lacked comprehensive biological test samples. Here, a cryoEM calibration sample consisting of a mixture of compatible macromolecules is introduced that can not only be used for resolution optimization, but also provides multiple reference points for evaluating instrument performance, data quality and image-processing workflows in a single experiment. This combined test specimen provides researchers with a reference point for validating their cryoEM pipeline, benchmarking their methodologies and testing new algorithms.

The effect of boron in BxGa1−xN/SiC heteroepitaxy was established by X-ray diffraction reciprocal-space maps on symmetric 0002 and asymmetric 11 {overline 2} 4 reflections. The density of screw and edge threading dislocations was quantified in the framework of the mosaic model.

BGaN epilayers with boron contents up to 5.6% were grown on SiC substrates by metal–organic chemical vapor deposition. The effects of boron incorporation on the structural and optical properties were studied by high-resolution X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. XRD reciprocal-space maps around the symmetric 0002 and asymmetric 11 {overline 2} 4 reflections allowed evaluation of the lattice constants and lattice mismatch with respect to the underlying substrate. XRD rocking curves and AFM measurements indicated the mosaic microstructure of the epilayer. The impact of boron content on crystallite size, tilt and twist is evaluated and the correlation with threading dislocation density is discussed. The deterioration of optical properties with increasing boron content was assessed by Raman and PL spectroscopy.

A plug-flow fixed-bed cell for synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) idoneous for the study of heterogeneous catalysts at high temperature, pressure and under gas flow is designed, constructed and demonstrated. The operating conditions up to 1000°C and 50 bar are ensured by a set of mass flow controllers, pressure regulators and two infra-red lamps that constitute a robust and ultra-fast heating and cooling method. The performance of the system and cell for carbon dioxide hydrogenation reactions under specified temperatures, gas flows and pressures is demonstrated both for PXRD and XAFS at the P02.1 (PXRD) and the P64 (XAFS) beamlines of the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY).