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Beyond color: Fluorescence lifetime imaging expands multiplex imaging in living plant cells

Researchers distinguish multiple fluorescent proteins with overlapping emission colors by their lifetime using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). FLIM successfully distinguishes several fluorescent proteins with overlapping color emissions within plant cells, enabling simultaneous analysis of multiple proteins.

SourceInstitute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM), Nagoya University·JournalPLANT PHYSIOLOGY·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 11, 2026

A new reagent makes living brains transparent for deeper, non-invasive imaging

Researchers at Kyushu University develop a new tissue-clearing reagent, SeeDB-Live, enabling repeated, reversible, and real-time imaging of living brains at greater depth and clarity. This breakthrough allows scientists to visualize neural activity in living mice and brain slices, offering new insights into brain dynamics and function.

SourceKyushu University·JournalNature Methods·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 12, 2026

Is shaping brain activity a mechanical process? An international research team provides new insights

A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals that the mechanical properties of the developing brain play a significant role in synapse formation and electrical signal emergence. The researchers found that softer regions exhibit higher synapse densities, while stiffer regions show lower densities.

SourceMax Planck Institute for the Science of Light·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateNov 14, 2025

New imaging approach simplifies retina exams by enabling digital refocusing

A new imaging approach has simplified retina exams by eliminating the need for mechanical focusing, making fundus cameras more accessible. The system uses a diffuser to capture 3D light information and digitally refocus images after they are taken, producing consistent resolution of about 7-10 line pairs per millimeter.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalBiophotonics Discovery·DateSep 10, 2025

Imaging study reveals how tiny brain vessels pulse to regulate blood flow

Scientists have discovered that tiny brain vessels pulse to regulate blood flow through bursts of contraction and relaxation. The research reveals that these bursts originate from the walls of small arteries and spread through the vascular network in short intervals, providing insights into how the brain regulates its blood supply.

Neuronal imaging system shows sensory activity in real time, UT Health San Antonio-led study finds

Researchers create breakthrough imaging system that shows sensory activity in real time, enabling them to distinguish between different sensations. The technique uses a genetically encoded voltage sensor to observe electrical signals from neurons and has major implications for treating chronic pain and sensory disorders.

How the brain allows us to infer emotions

Researchers have identified the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) as the basis of emotional inference in animals and humans. In a study published in Nature, Xiaowei Gu and Joshua Johansen found that rats can learn inferred emotions by associating a neutral stimulus with an unpleasant experience.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature·DateMay 14, 2025

Decoding the brainstem: A new window into brain–body–mind interactions

Researchers developed a live brainstem imaging method to study the nucleus tractus solitarii's role in emotion regulation and body-brain interactions. The D-PSCAN technique enabled high-resolution visualization of NTS neural activity in response to vagus nerve stimulation and gut hormone cholecystokinin, shedding light on potential the...

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalCell Reports Methods·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 2, 2025

Animal energy usage made visible through video

Researchers from OIST and Hebrew University developed a novel method to measure energy usage during movement using video and 3D-tracking via deep learning. This innovative approach expands the study of movement energy in ecology, physiology, and beyond, enabling the accurate measurement of energy consumption in smaller animal species.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·TypeImaging analysis·DateApr 24, 2025

Supramolecular probes with enhanced phosphorescence properties for biological imaging and sensing

Researchers developed a supramolecular probe with enhanced phosphorescence properties for biological imaging and sensing. The probe demonstrated outstanding stability, biocompatibility, and specificity in viscosity response, enabling real-time visualization of critical physiological processes in cells and in vivo biosensing.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateJan 14, 2025

New technique to detect brain metastases in mice using an ultra-thin light probe

A new experimental technique has developed a molecular flashlight to monitor molecular changes in the brain caused by cancer and other neurological pathologies. The technique uses vibrational spectroscopy to illuminate nerve tissue, allowing for the analysis of molecular changes caused by tumours or injuries.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO)·JournalNature Methods·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 31, 2024

New technique improves imaging for lymphatic system

Researchers developed a new imaging technique using shortwave-infrared (SWIR) imaging to visualize the lymphatic system, improving resolution and sensitivity compared to traditional near-infrared (NIR) imaging. SWIR imaging with silver sulfide quantum dots offers superior image resolution and outperforms NIR-I imaging techniques.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Biomedical Optics·TypeObservational study·DateSep 30, 2024

New microscope offers faster, high-resolution brain imaging

Researchers developed a new two-photon fluorescence microscope that captures high-speed images of neural activity at cellular resolution, providing insights into brain function and neurological diseases. The microscope uses an adaptive sampling scheme to image neurons in real time, reducing damage to brain tissue.

SourceOptica·JournalOptica·DateAug 15, 2024

New PET/MRI probe developed by IOCB Prague promises early discovery of covert diseases

A new hybrid contrast agent has been developed to combine the benefits of MRI and PET imaging techniques, offering improved accuracy and opening new diagnostic applications. The agent has shown potential in detecting kidney problems and other conditions, paving the way for personalized diagnostics and precise imaging.

Psychedelic drug-induced hyperconnectivity in the brain helps clarify altered subjective experiences

A new study shows that psilocybin initiates a pattern of hyperconnectivity in the brain linked to the ego-modifying effects and feelings of oceanic boundlessness. The findings provide insights into how the brain works on psychedelic drugs and their potential use to treat psychiatric disorders.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging·TypeImaging analysis·DateMay 23, 2024

3D intravital high-resolution photoacoustic tracing of meningeal lymphatic vessels

Researchers developed a novel technique to visualize meningeal lymphatic vessels in vivo using photoacoustic microscopy. The study revealed that these vessels play a crucial role in regulating cerebrospinal fluid circulation and clearing metabolic waste from the brain, which is impaired in early stages of Alzheimer's disease.

Switching off the light to see better

Researchers from Osaka University have developed a new approach for super-resolution microscopy that can observe dense microstructures inside cells with excellent sharpness. By selecting only a desired plane to image using thin 'light sheet' illumination, they were able to achieve background-free super-resolution imaging.

SourceOsaka University·JournalNature Methods·TypeImaging analysis·DateApr 22, 2024

CityU researchers develop ultra-sensitive photoacoustic microscopy for wide biomedical application potential

The research team created a multi-spectral, super-low-dose photoacoustic microscopy system with improved sensitivity, enabling new applications and clinical translation. The system achieved up to capillary-level or sub-cellular resolution at greater depths than traditional optical microscopy methods.

SourceCity University of Hong Kong·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 31, 2023