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Microscopy

All articles tagged with #microscopy

Tiny Hairs, Mighty Grip: Gecko Feet Under the Microscope
science23 hours ago

Tiny Hairs, Mighty Grip: Gecko Feet Under the Microscope

ScienceAlert's Microscope Mystery reveals that the “forest” image is the underside of a gecko's foot: each toe is covered in hundreds of thousands of hairlike setae that branch into spatulae, enabling strong adhesion through van der Waals forces without glue; the combined grip could theoretically support about 133 kilograms, and geckos detach by peeling their toes at a precise angle—SEM imagery (colored afterward) shows this microscopic adhesive network that researchers are trying to mimic in synthetic adhesives.

via ScienceAlert|
#biology#gecko#microscopy
Stanford unveils 120-nm, label-free microscope for real-time live-cell imaging
science2 months ago

Stanford unveils 120-nm, label-free microscope for real-time live-cell imaging

Stanford researchers developed Interferometric Image Scanning Microscopy (iISM), a label-free instrument that reaches ~120-nanometer resolution inside living cells by merging interferometric scattering with array-based detection, enabling real-time observation of cellular structures with less light and no fluorescent labels. It complements fluorescence microscopy and opens new avenues for studying pathogen interactions, drug entry, and malaria-related cell changes, with plans to broaden access and collaborations.

via SciTechDaily|
#cell-biology#interferometric-scattering#label-free-imaging
PCA-iSIM: A Compact, Fast Route to Real-Time Super-Resolution Microscopy
technology4 months ago

PCA-iSIM: A Compact, Fast Route to Real-Time Super-Resolution Microscopy

Researchers from the Smart Computational Imaging Laboratory (SCILab) at Nanjing University of Science and Technology unveil PCA-iSIM, a compact DMD-based incoherent structured-illumination microscopy framework that couples high-modulation coefficient mapping with principal component analysis to recover high-frequency details from low-contrast patterns, enabling real-time imaging at up to 30 frames per second with about 100 nm resolution and a ~70% simpler optical design than laser-based SIM; demonstrated in living cells imaging mitochondrial activity under challenging noise and setting changes.

via SciTechDaily|
#computational-imaging#microscopy#pca-isim
Magnetic-Pulse Microscopy Unmasks Hidden Molecular States
science4 months ago

Magnetic-Pulse Microscopy Unmasks Hidden Molecular States

Researchers at the University of Tokyo developed pump-field-probe fluorescence microscopy that combines synchronized pulsed light with nanosecond magnetic pulses to detect spin-dependent, non-emissive intermediates invisible to standard fluorescence. Validated on flavin-based model systems, the method measures lifetimes and magnetic responses at biologically relevant, low concentrations and can operate with minimal sample damage, enabling time-resolved studies of short-lived dark states and offering potential for live-cell applications. This approach bridges fluorescence microscopy with spin chemistry, contributing to quantum biology and noninvasive diagnostics, with future plans to tackle more complex biological environments and separate overlapping reaction pathways.

via SciTechDaily|
#live-cell-imaging#microscopy#nonemissive-intermediates
Terahertz microscope unmasks quantum vibrations of superconducting electrons
science6 months ago

Terahertz microscope unmasks quantum vibrations of superconducting electrons

MIT researchers developed a terahertz microscope that uses spintronic emitters and a Bragg mirror to compress terahertz light to micron-scale spots, enabling imaging of the collective terahertz oscillations of superconducting electrons in BSCCO at cryogenic temperatures and overcoming the diffraction limit—a breakthrough for studying quantum modes in materials with potential implications for room-temperature superconductivity and terahertz devices.

via MIT News|
#bscco#microscopy#science
The Power of Curiosity and Paradox in Scientific Discovery
science1 year ago

The Power of Curiosity and Paradox in Scientific Discovery

Manu Prakash, a Stanford bioengineer, advocates for a philosophy called 'recreational biology,' which emphasizes curiosity and wonder in scientific exploration. He is renowned for creating low-cost scientific tools like the Foldscope, a paper microscope, and for studying both urgent health issues and the fascinating behaviors of microscopic organisms, blending practical applications with fundamental science to inspire broad curiosity and democratize access to scientific discovery.

via Quanta Magazine|
#curiosity-driven-research#frugal-science#microscopy