Heterogeneous catalysts are estimated to be involved in over 70% of industrial manufacturing processes. In this lecture the speaker will highlight how bright light sources available at national facilities such as synchrotrons and lasers have been developed and applied in real time , to illuminate the behaviour of atoms, molecules, liquids and solids to understand how and why catalysts work (or not) and how this information can be used to improve their performance. The lecture will also discuss how this insight can be exploited to enable the development of more sustainable processes as we strive to reach net zero.