New Electron Microscope

[livius drusus]

Very, very cool. (http://edition.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science/09/21/electronmicroscope.ap/index.html)

For its latest findings, the Oak Ridge lab used a 300-kilovolt state-of-the-art electron microscope aided by new computerized imaging technology developed by Nion Co. of Kirkland, Washington.

The technology, called aberration correction, fixes imperfections on the microscope's electron lenses.

"We are crossing that threshold where we can really see atoms clearly for the first time ever," Pennycook said.

Pennycook compared the resolution correction technology to being able to focus 50 lenses simultaneously.

Using microscopes was one of my favorite parts of science classes. Have any of y'all actually looked through an electron microscope? If yes, what did you look at and was it as cool as I think it is?

[pzmyers]

You can't look through an electron microscope. It uses electrons.

I'm a microscope geek. I've used TEM and SEM, as well as confocal, two-photon, and lots of epifluorescence scopes. I do digital photomicrography with differential interference contrast microscopy for fun. I've got a Leica DMLB with DIC, phase, epifluorescence, and a range of high NA objectives.

Have I got you hot yet?

[Dingfod]

You could look through an electron microscope if you use a powerful X-ray machine.

[The Lone Ranger]

As pz pointed out, one doesn't look through an EM. But, you get to look at an image projected onto a monitor -- usually, it's like looking at a black-and-white television image of something really cool.

You just haven't lived 'til you've seen mitochondria under such high magnification that the cristae (http://www.udel.edu/Biology/Wags/histopage/empage/ecu/ecu12.gif) look like canyons.

Cheers,

Michael

[livius drusus]

You can't look through an electron microscope. It uses electrons.

Yes, well, just because that perfect makes sense doesn't mean I should have thought of it. Hmph...

I'm a microscope geek. I've used TEM and SEM, as well as confocal, two-photon, and lots of epifluorescence scopes. I do digital photomicrography with differential interference contrast microscopy for fun. I've got a Leica DMLB with DIC, phase, epifluorescence, and a range of high NA objectives.

Have I got you hot yet?

Intensely. I might have to make a new post in Adora's Porn and You thread.

[livius drusus]

As pz pointed out, one doesn't look through an EM. But, you get to look at an image projected onto a monitor -- usually, it's like looking at a black-and-white television image of something really cool.

Black and white? I didn't realize that. I can see the next EM frontier already.

You just haven't lived 'til you've seen mitochondria under such high magnification that the cristae (http://www.udel.edu/Biology/Wags/histopage/empage/ecu/ecu12.gif) look like canyons.

/me coos
They're soooo pretty. Don't you miss the tinting thing, though? They'd be even prettier if they were, say, pink. :D

[The Lone Ranger]

Yep, electron microscopes only do black-and-white images, though you can artifically color the images.

But, remember that what we interpret as "color" is due to the wavelengths of light reflected by the object in question. The whole point of electron microscopes is that they allow the imaging of objects that are typically smaller than the wavelengths of visible light. So, "color" is pretty-much a meaningless concept on this scale.

Some people definitely find colorized images to be more useful, and/or more interesting. They can be quite beautiful!

Before and after. (http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf/microangela/methods.htm)

Cheers,

Michael