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EasyGrid: Towards better automation in cryo-electron microscopy

The EMBL Grenoble team created two systems, EasyGrid and EasyGrid Control, to automate sample preparation for various techniques. These platforms improve the quality of samples by reducing manual handling and ensuring reproducibility, enabling faster optimization and better results.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalNature Methods·TypeExperimental study

When order gives way to chaos: the turbulent birth of magnetic nanovortices

Scientists have directly imaged the effect of short current pulses on skyrmions, finding that they break up into disordered patterns before re-forming in a predictable manner. This discovery opens up new possibilities for computing concepts like probabilistic computing.

SourceMax Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI)·JournalSmall·TypeExperimental study

Visualizing non-classical nucleation of intrinsically disordered proteins/regions: from oligomers, clusters to dense phase

Researchers used LP-TEM to visualize the dynamic processes occurring during early stages of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in intrinsically disordered proteins/regions. The study provides compelling evidence supporting a non-classical nucleation mechanism and proposes a multi-step process for LLPS, which is common in IDPs/IDRs.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·TypeImaging analysis

Finding order in disorder: A new mechanism that amplifies transverse electron transport

A study by researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology discovered that engineered disorder can amplify transverse electron transport in magnetic materials. The findings suggest that deliberately using disorder in materials design could lead to new opportunities in spintronics and thermoelectric energy-conversion technologies.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalPhysical Review Letters
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Multimodal ultrafast electron microscope captures electron-lattice dynamics in real time

Researchers integrated transient optical spectroscopy with ultrafast electron microscopy to capture both electronic and structural dynamics simultaneously. This enables the study of heterogeneous materials, phase transitions, and light-driven functional responses with implications for solar cells, quantum computing, and next-generation...

SourceScience China Press·TypeExperimental study
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Aging researchers find new puzzle piece in the game of longevity

Researchers at Vanderbilt University found that aging cells remodel their endoplasmic reticulum through ER-phagy, a process linked to lifespan and healthy aging. This discovery highlights the ER as a potential drug target for age-related chronic conditions.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalNature Cell Biology

Coffee as a staining agent substitute in electron microscopy

A team at Graz University of Technology found that espresso is a favourable and environmentally friendly substitute for uranyl acetate, which is highly toxic and radioactive. The results showed equally good quality images under the microscope with coffee staining.

SourceGraz University of Technology·JournalMethods·TypeExperimental study

University of Tennessee receives DOE Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Award

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has received a $251,650 DOE award to establish an in-situ scanning electron microscopy platform for irradiated materials. The high-resolution microscope will enhance the university's research capabilities in extreme environments.

SourceUniversity of Tennessee at Knoxville

Engineering defects could transform the future of nanomaterials

Materials scientists at the University of Minnesota have discovered a way to control tiny 'flaws' inside ultra-thin materials, giving them new properties. The study found that patterned regions can achieve up to 1,000 times higher density of extended defects than unpatterned areas.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota·JournalNature Communications
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Characterization of few-cycle pulses tunable across the vacuum ultraviolet

Scientists at Max Born Institute develop technique to generate µJ-level tunable few-fs UV pulses in VUV range. They successfully characterized few-fs pulses tuned between 160 and 190 nm using electron FROG, revealing pulse duration of 2-3 fs.

SourceMax Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI)·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study

Dancing proteins keep cells moving

Actin filaments play a crucial role in cell movement and stability. A trio of proteins - coronin, cofilin, and AIP1 - regulate their disassembly to prevent unproductive elongation and ensure optimal power transmission. The researchers used cryo-electron microscopy to visualize the molecular choreography, revealing coordinated steps and...

SourceMax Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study

Chung-Ang University researchers reveal strange dynamics of nanoparticle growth and shrink

Researchers developed a new model and theory to explain nanoparticle growth dynamics, accounting for six essential characteristics of nanoparticle growth. The new theory provides fresh physical insights into the role of nanoparticle motion and configurational degeneracy on their nucleation and growth.

SourceChung Ang University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

International research team explains how diatoms interact with uranium

Researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf discovered how diatoms chemically interact with uranium, finding it bound both on the surface and within the algae. The team's findings provide initial insights into the chemical bonds formed and help understand the impact of uranium release on natural cycles.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study

Researchers capture nanoparticle movements to forge new materials

Researchers have developed a technique to observe phonon dynamics in nanoparticle self-assemblies, enabling the creation of reconfigurable metamaterials with desired mechanical properties. This advance has wide-ranging applications in fields such as robotics, mechanical engineering, and information technology.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNature Materials·TypeComputational simulation/modeling
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

How flies grow their gyroscopes: Study reveals how flight stabilizers take shape

A study by the CSIC-UMH Institute of Neurosciences uncovers how flies' flight stabilizers, the halteres, take shape. The structure is stabilized by a sophisticated cellular system that connects its two surfaces through an internal framework.

SourceUniversidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study

Scientists complete largest wiring diagram and functional map of the brain to date

A global team of neuroscientists has created the most detailed wiring diagram of a mammalian brain, revealing new cell types, characteristics, and organizational principles. The MICrONS Project's findings have transformative potential for neuroscience and medicine, offering a blueprint for understanding intelligence and disorders like ...

SourceAllen Institute·JournalNature·TypeData/statistical analysis
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Rare crystal shape found to increase the strength of 3D-printed metal

Scientists at NIST discovered a novel aluminum alloy with enhanced strength through quasicrystals, revolutionizing 3D printing. The unique crystal structure breaks the regular pattern of perfect crystals, causing defects that make the metal stronger.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalJournal of Alloys and Compounds·TypeImaging analysis

Chi, Advincula named Materials Research Society Fellows

Materials Research Society elects Miaofang Chi and Rigoberto “Gobet” Advincula as Class of 2025 Fellows for their outstanding work on novel electron microscopy methods, advanced polymers, and nanostructured materials. New Fellows will be recognized at the MRS spring meeting in April 2025.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Automatic cell analysis with the help of artificial intelligence

An international research team developed a user-friendly software method called Segment Anything for Microscopy, which can precisely segment images of tissues, cells, and similar structures. The new model improved performance for cell segmentation, enabling researchers to automate tasks that previously took weeks of manual effort.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalNature Methods·TypeExperimental study

Scientists reveal cilia’s secrets using connectome data

Researchers used super high-resolution 3D electron microscopy images to study primary cilia in mouse brain tissue, revealing new information about their organization and function. The findings provide insights into how cilia behave in their natural environment and could help scientists understand their role in disease.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Time-resolved polarimetric electron microscopy reveals spin meron pair

Researchers used time-delayed laser pulses to capture electric and magnetic field vectors of surface plasmon polaritons, revealing a meron pair's spin texture. The study demonstrates stable spin structures despite fast field rotations.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics

3D snapshots unveil the intricate dance of RNA folding

Scientists have captured 3D snapshots of individual RNA nanoparticles in motion, showcasing the dynamic and intricate folding process. This breakthrough uses advanced electron microscopy to study RNA's flexibility, enabling new insights into its structure and potential applications in molecular medicine.

SourceAarhus University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study

Super microscope shows nanoscale biological process for the first time

Researchers at Radboud University Medical Center developed a super microscope that combines live imaging and electron microscopy, allowing visualization of protein complexes in real-time. This technique opens up new avenues for studying arterial calcification and its potential link to COVID-19 vaccine entry.

SourceRadboud University Medical Center·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Self shocks turn crystal to glass at ultralow power density

Scientists have developed a new method for converting crystal to glass using electric current, reducing the need for high-power melt-quench processes. The discovery could transform data storage in devices and unlock wider applications for phase-change memory technology.

SourceIndian Institute of Science (IISc)·JournalNature

Successful direct observation of space charge layers inside solid electrolyte of fuel cell

Scientists at The University of Tokyo successfully observe the existence of space charge layers in solid electrolyte fuel cells, shedding light on their impact on ion conduction. By controlling grain boundary structure, they can eliminate these layers and improve material performance.

SourceJapan Science and Technology Agency·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study

SFSU researchers’ unique 3D maps might help solve the mysteries of octopus arms

Researchers at SFSU have created three-dimensional molecular and anatomical maps of the inner neuronal circuitry of octopus arms. These 3D reconstructions revealed that cells at the tip of an arm are different from those at the base, allowing for new questions to be posed about how cells communicate with one another.

SourceSan Francisco State University·JournalCurrent Biology
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

2-billion-year-old rock home to living microbes

Researchers have discovered living microbes in a 2-billion-year-old rock sample from the Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa. The team used advanced imaging techniques to confirm the presence of indigenous microorganisms, shedding light on the early evolution of life on Earth and the potential for similar organisms to exist on Mars.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalMicrobial Ecology·TypeObservational study

How to build our body’s protein recycling factories

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys have developed a clearer picture of how crucial machinery in the human cell's recycling process for obsolete and misshapen proteins—known as proteasomes—are formed. The research team shed new light on how two protein chaperones bind on the top of the alpha subunit ring as it is constructed.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study

UVA develops a ‘Google earth’ view of bone — with an eye toward disease prevention

A University of Virginia engineer developed a workflow to combine advanced imaging technologies for improved understanding of porous bone, which could inform disease detection. The method allows for three-dimensional rendering of bone structure across various length scales.

SourceUniversity of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalScientific Reports·TypeImaging analysis

In search of new microscopy tools to observe how cells function

Scientists at the University of Utah's Department of Chemistry developed a new contrast agent that allows for the simultaneous observation of cell structure and function in electron microscopy. The discovery could improve imaging tools used to study signaling in functioning cells and other molecular-scale processes.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeObservational study
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Dormant capacity reserve in lithium-ion batteries detected

Researchers at TU Graz have observed where lithium ions are stored and released from battery material during charging and discharging cycles. They found that even fully charged batteries retain lithium ions in the crystal lattice of the cathode, leading to a capacity loss. This knowledge can help increase battery capacity further.

SourceGraz University of Technology·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·TypeImaging analysis

TTUHSC’s Guan receives NIH grant to continue cell transport research

Guan's lab will apply accumulated experience and methods to study SLC6A14, a sodium-coupled epithelial amino acid co-transporter involved in cancer and several chronic diseases. CryoEM will be used to determine the structure of SLC6A14, providing insight into its substrate specificity and inhibitory mechanisms.

SourceTexas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

How does a common skin bacterium cause chronic infections after orthopedic surgeries?

A new study reveals that Cutibacterium acnes can persist in biofilms on implants for weeks, invading deep bone networks and causing chronic infections. The bacteria's ability to invade osteocyte lacuno-canalicular networks provides a novel mechanism for treating difficult-to-treat bone infections.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Orthopaedic Research®

Structured electrons with chiral mass and charge

Researchers at University of Konstanz shape electron matter wave into left- or right-handed coils of mass and charge. This achievement has implications for fundamental physics and potential applications in quantum optics, particle physics, and electron microscopy.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalScience

New microscopes available as public resource draw a crowd to Woods Hole

The Marine Biological Laboratory has introduced two new microscopes for biological and biomedical research, providing a valuable resource for scientists and students. The instruments enable correlative imaging, allowing researchers to confirm results in different ways, and are expected to influence further development of advanced imagi...

SourceMarine Biological Laboratory
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Observing mammalian cells with superfast soft X-rays

Researchers developed a new technique to view living mammalian cells using ultrafast pulses of illumination from a soft X-ray free electron laser. The microscope captured images of carbon-based structures in living cells with high spatial resolution and a wide field of view, revealing new insights into cellular biology.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalOptica·TypeExperimental study

A fragment of human brain, mapped

A team of Harvard researchers, led by Jeff Lichtman, has created the largest synaptic-resolution, 3D reconstruction of a piece of human brain to date. The dataset contains 1,400 terabytes of data on neural connections in a tiny piece of human temporal cortex.

SourceHarvard University·JournalScience·TypeData/statistical analysis

Surfaces on the move: dynamic liquefaction

RMIT researchers have found that the liquid-solid boundary can fluctuate back and forth, with metallic atoms near the surface breaking free from their crystal lattice. The phenomenon occurs at unexpectedly low temperatures and is observed up to 100 atoms in depth.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study

This alloy is kinky

Researchers discovered an alloy with exceptional strength and toughness across a wide temperature range, outperforming even cryogenic steels. The alloy's unique properties are attributed to the formation of rare kink bands that enable it to resist bending and fracture.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalScience
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

A better view with new mid-infrared nanoscopy

A team at the University of Tokyo has constructed an improved mid-infrared microscope that enables them to see the structures inside living bacteria at the nanometer scale with a resolution of 120 nanometers. This breakthrough can aid multiple fields of research, including into infectious diseases.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study

“One ring to rule them all”: How actin filaments are assembled by formins

Researchers analyzed three distinct formins from fungi, mice, and humans, revealing a new paradigm in actin filament assembly. The structures show that formins encircle actin like an asymmetric ring, with one half stably bound and the other half loosely associated.

SourceMax Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study

World-first microscopic stiffness probe could revolutionise early cancer diagnosis

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have created a world-first device that can image individual cells' stiffness, potentially catching cancer earlier. The technology uses Brillouin scattering to detect stiffness down to billionths of a meter and could replace traditional biopsies with non-invasive, single-cell imaging.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study

New method for analyzing nanoporous materials

Researchers at TU Graz developed a new method to analyze nanoporous materials using single electron microscope images. The technique determines the three-dimensional distribution of ions in crystal channels or nanopores, leading to a better understanding of aquamarine's blue color and potential applications in material science.

SourceGraz University of Technology·JournalCommunications Materials·TypeImaging analysis
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Targeting the transporter

Researchers discover how S1P molecules are released from SPNS2 protein via small cavities, enabling potential treatment for inflammatory diseases. The study provides a foundation for designing future drugs targeting the protein.

SourceNational University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine·JournalCell Research·TypeCommentary/editorial

Government Chief Scientific Adviser opens ground-breaking lab facility

The UK Centre for Multimodal Correlative Microscopy and Spectroscopy (CoreMiS) will enable researchers to analyze environmental samples with unprecedented detail. CoreMiS has already been used to study ancient artifacts, detect pollutants in drinking water, and investigate antimicrobial resistance.

SourceUK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Finding clues about the origin of life on Earth inside meteorites

Researchers have discovered nitrogen-bearing biorelevant molecules, including amino acids and nucleobases, in the Winchcombe meteorite. These findings suggest that the meteorite may have delivered crucial organic molecules to early Earth, potentially influencing the origin of life.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalNature

Single-celled kamikazes spearhead bacterial infection

Research reveals that a small subset of bacterial cells produces deadly toxins while sacrificing themselves for the benefit of their comrades. The bacteria use a temperature-sensitive genetic switch to synchronize toxin production with cell enlargement, ensuring an efficient strategy for infection.

SourceMax Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology·JournalNature Microbiology·TypeExperimental study