Colloidal glasses are suspensions of small solid particles in a liquid. When placed under stress, they transition from a solid-like to fluid-like state. These properties make colloidal suspensions, including emulsions, foams, and microgels, well-suited for a variety of applications such as spreadable foods and personal care products. Researchers used the Advanced Photon Source to learn more about the transition from recoverable to unrecoverable deformation in these materials.