Small is Beautiful: The New Wonders of Microscopy

Scientific discovery and laboratory analysis benefit greatly from today’s plethora of microscopy techniques

At the same time, manufacturers strive to balance increased technical capacity and ease of use. Each new generation brings advances in resolution, sensitivity and speed, including 3D imaging. Digital photography and other computer-linked techniques are broadening both research and teaching capabilities. New confocal laser scanning microscopes offer greater speed and image quality. Scanning electron microscopes display cells and minuscule organisms in exquisite detail, but at the cost of damage to the sample. An Australian team replaced electrons with helium atoms, creating a prototype that seems to protect samples while maintaining high scan resolution