Advances in X-ray scattering: from solution SAXS to achievements with coherent beams

► Experimental and computational advances in SAXS have been reviewed. ► Macromolecular purification is combined online with SAXS to ensure monodispersity. ► New computational approaches are used to deal with multiconformational systems. ► Coherent X-ray scattering allows imaging of micrometer-sized specimens. ► XFELs have a great potential for structure determination of biomolecules in solution.