Modern Microscopy

Author(s): Ziyan Zhu and Thomas P. DevereauxA quantitative microscopic description of electron-phonon coupling is a prerequisite for resolving the origin of superconductivity in twisted bilayer graphene. Here, the authors provide this fundamental component by developing a first-principles-based continuum theory for arbitrary twist angles. They report that coupling is strongly enhanced near the magic angle and persists up to 1.4° despite the loss of electronic flat bands. The study pinpoints specific phonon branches responsible and identifies a resonance between electronic bandwidth and phonon frequencies as the key condition for strong coupling. [Phys. Rev. B 113, 035446] Published Fri Jan 30, 2026

Adaptor protein (AP) complexes play central roles in intracellular vesicular trafficking by coupling cargo selection to vesicle formation. AP-4, an important member of the AP family, plays a key role in this process. AP-4 dysfunction disrupts the transport of essential cargo proteins, such as ATG9A, leading to their abnormal retention within cells. However, the mechanistic details of how AP-4 is recruited to membranes and how its structural features support this process have remained unclear.

Nanomechanical systems have now reached a level of precision and miniaturization that will allow them to be used in ultra-high-resolution atomic force microscopes in the future.

By combining atomic force microscopy (AFM) with a Hadamard product-based image reconstruction algorithm, scientists successfully visualized the nanoscopic dynamics of membrane rafts in live cells.

Researchers developed a method to enhance 3D imaging of lithium-ion battery electrodes, improving visualization of internal structures that affect performance.

To ensure that the tissue structures of biological samples are easily recognizable under the electron microscope, they are treated with a staining agent. The standard staining agent for this is uranyl acetate. However, some laboratories are not allowed to use this highly toxic and radioactive substance for safety reasons.

Researchers have proven that espresso is a favourable alternative to the highly toxic and radioactive uranyl acetate in the analysis of biological samples.

Author(s): Chance Ornelas-Skarin, Tatiana Bezriadina, Matthias Fuchs, Shambhu Ghimire, J. B. Hastings, Quynh L. Nguyen, Gilberto de la Peña, Takahiro Sato, Sharon Shwartz, Mariano Trigo, Diling Zhu, Daria Popova-Gorelova, and David A. ReisNonlinear x-ray diffraction is used to isolate the valence electron density in silicon, demonstrating a powerful imaging technique useful across a range of complex materials. [Phys. Rev. X 16, 011006] Published Wed Jan 07, 2026

Nature is the foremost international weekly scientific journal in the world and is the flagship journal for Nature Portfolio. It publishes the finest peer-reviewed research in all fields of science and technology on the basis of its originality, importance, interdisciplinary interest, timeliness, accessibility, elegance and surprising conclusions. Nature publishes landmark papers, award winning news, leading comment and expert opinion on important, topical scientific news and events that enable readers to share the latest discoveries in science and evolve the discussion amongst the global scientific community.

Artist Michael Benson reveals the hidden beauty of snowflakes, radiolarians and lunar rocks through stunning electron microscope images in his new book, .

A research team led by NIMS has, for the first time, produced nanoscale images of two key features in an ultra-thin material: twist domains (areas where one atomic layer is slightly rotated relative to another) and polarities (differences in atomic orientation). The material, monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), is regarded as a promising candidate for use in next-generation electronic devices.

Researchers at the VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology have developed a new microfluidics-based workflow that enables high-resolution cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure determination from extremely small quantities of starting material.

Modern energy technologies are essential for meeting the growing global demand for electricity, driven by rapid industrialization and the global transition toward renewable energy. Among these technologies, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) play a crucial role, powering devices from portable electronics to electric vehicles.

High-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) is the only experimental technique to directly watch proteins in dynamic action. However, as a surface scanning technique with limited spatial resolution, HS-AFM will inevitably provide insufficient information for detailed atomistic understanding of biomolecular function. Despite previous efforts in computational modeling attempting to overcome such limitations, successful applications to retrieve atomistic-level information from measurements are practically absent.

A team of researchers at the University of Victoria (UVic) have achieved an advance in electron microscopy that will allow scientists to visualize atomic-scale structures with unprecedented clarity using lower-cost and lower-energy microscopes than ever before.

Scientists have developed an efficient technique to create customized high-entropy alloys - exceptionally strong, resilient metals with wide-ranging potential. This advance could speed their use in aerospace, geothermal and nuclear energy, and next-generation catalysts, bringing futuristic materials closer to real-world applications.

Have you ever wondered what makes shark skin so tough and sleek? It's dermal denticles—tiny, tooth-like structures that cover a shark's skin. Made of the same material as teeth and shaped like small scales with grooves, these microscopic armor plates aren't just for show. Dermal denticles serve important roles in helping sharks glide effortlessly, and protect their skin, especially during mating.

Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have successfully applied cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to unveil the molecular structures of critical protein machines that transport lipids and maintain the outer membrane (OM) barrier of Gram-negative bacteria.

A new AI model generates realistic synthetic microscope images of atoms, providing scientists with reliable training data to accelerate materials research and atomic scale analysis.

Humans have been making metal alloys for thousands of years, and most of us can conjure a rough mental image of the process—it involves red-hot molten metals being mixed, poured, and shaped in a sweltering workshop or factory. This approach still works perfectly well for the traditional metals we see every day, like steel. But advanced metals with special chemical and mechanical properties, ones that scientists are investigating to use in energy technologies like long-lasting batteries and extreme-temperature engines for aerospace vehicles, need a more refined approach.

Researchers created a near-room-temperature method to make high-entropy alloys with precise control of crystal structure and morphology for custom designs.

Researchers developed and validated a label-free, non-invasive method combining AFM with deep learning for accurate profiling of human macrophage mechanophenotypes and rapid identification of their polarization states.

Macrophages drive key immune processes including inflammation, tissue repair, and tumorigenesis via distinct polarization states whose accurate identification is vital for diagnosis and immunotherapy. However, methods like RNA sequencing and flow cytometry are often costly, time-consuming, and unable to enable real-time, label-free, high-throughput detection.

New model extracts stiffness and fluidity from AFM data in minutes, enabling fast, accurate mechanical characterization of living cells at single-cell resolution.

A collaborative team from the Rosalind Franklin Institute, the University of Oxford, and Diamond Light Source has developed a breakthrough method that makes it possible to image very small proteins using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). The results are published in Nature Chemical Biology.

Scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have reimagined the capabilities of atomic force microscopy, or AFM, transforming it from a tool for imaging nanoscale features into one that also captures large-scale biological architecture. Often called a "touching microscope," AFM uses a fine probe to feel surfaces at resolutions down to a billionth of a meter. Although powerful, traditional AFM has been limited by its narrow field of view, making it difficult to understand how individual features fit into larger organizational structures.

Researchers from Trinity College Dublin's School of Engineering have built a powerful new machine that lets us watch precisely what happens when tiny particles—far smaller than a grain of sand—hit a surface at extremely high speeds. It's the only machine like it in Europe, and it took over two years to design and build.

Radiation damage remains the principal limitation in achieving higher resolution in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), despite advances in cryoprotection and low-dose imaging. Researchers have proposed that using pulsed electron beams could allow relaxation between energy deposition events, potentially reducing damage. However, the actual existence of such a mitigation effect remains unclear.

High-resolution cryo-electron microscopy makes it possible to study complex enzymatic processes in detail. With this method, a research team of the University of Potsdam and Humboldt-Universität Berlin succeeded in characterizing the CODH/ACS enzyme complex in detail. They discovered that the complex moves in the course of chemical reactions and thus determines the reaction sequence. Their results have been published in the journal Nature Catalysis.

In 1977, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Roger Guillemin and Andrew Schally for their discovery and synthesis of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), a key regulator of reproductive function. Today, the GnRH receptor (GnRHR) remains at the forefront of biomedical research.

A research team including members from the University of Michigan have unveiled a new observational technique that's sensitive to the dynamics of the intrinsic quantum jiggles of materials, or phonons.

Nature is the foremost international weekly scientific journal in the world and is the flagship journal for Nature Portfolio. It publishes the finest peer-reviewed research in all fields of science and technology on the basis of its originality, importance, interdisciplinary interest, timeliness, accessibility, elegance and surprising conclusions. Nature publishes landmark papers, award winning news, leading comment and expert opinion on important, topical scientific news and events that enable readers to share the latest discoveries in science and evolve the discussion amongst the global scientific community.

Researchers at the Institute of Physics in Zagreb, Croatia, in collaboration with international partners, have showcased new methods for visualizing atomic-scale changes in advanced materials.

Author(s): Sorin Lazar, Peter Tiemeijer, Claudia S. Schnohr, Maria Meledina, Christian Patzig, Thomas Höche, Paolo Longo, and Bert FreitagX-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and electron-energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) are crucial for material characterization. XAS excels in signal-to-noise ratio and energy range, while EELS offers atomic-scale spatial resolution but struggles with higher ionization energies. This study introduces an EELS spectrometer that achieves high spatial resolution and probes higher ionization energies through optical adjustments. This advancement enhances material analysis at submicrometer scales and provides new insights into element-specific bond lengths and oxidation states, potentially impacting fields such as nanotechnology and materials science. [Phys. Rev. Applied 23, 054095] Published Fri May 30, 2025

Researchers from the Göttingen Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging (MBExC) have uncovered the 3D structure of the membrane proteins myoferlin and dysferlin using high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy.

A research team from National Taiwan University has developed a new electron microscopy technique that enables sensitive atomic number (Z) measurements of samples. The technique, named atomic number electron microscopy (ZEM), is now used to observe hydrogen storage behavior and the associated defect formation and healing processes of palladium at the nanoscale.

Sample loss has been a persistent problem in cryo-EM, a high-tech method for creating 3D models of molecules that reveal their inner structures. It occurs during an essential step of imaging preparation, when a sample is blotted with a filter to remove excess liquid. Frequently, much of the sample transfers to the filter, leaving little to nothing behind on the imaging platform for the electron camera to capture.

PI, a global leader in precision motion control and nanopositioning, announces fast delivery of its nanometer-precise, high-speed V-308 vertical nanopositioning stage.

Author(s): Christoph S. Setescak, Irene Aguilera, Adrian Weindl, Matthias Kronseder, Andrea Donarini, and Franz J. GiessiblTopological insulators, such as Bi 2 Se 3 , Bi 2 Te 3 and Bi 2 Te 2 Se, are materials with an insulating bulk

Feedback notes the flurry of new papers mentioning the mysterious "vegetative electron microscope", and ponders the emergence of this tortured phrase

The Retraction Watch blog tried to make sense of a nonsensical phrase — “vegetative electron microscopy” — that appears in several published research reports. Read the details to see what they discovered about how this meaningless phrase came to reside in those papers: “As a nonsense phrase of shady provenance makes the rounds, Elsevier defends […]

Nature is the foremost international weekly scientific journal in the world and is the flagship journal for Nature Portfolio. It publishes the finest peer-reviewed research in all fields of science and technology on the basis of its originality, importance, interdisciplinary interest, timeliness, accessibility, elegance and surprising conclusions. Nature publishes landmark papers, award winning news, leading comment and expert opinion on important, topical scientific news and events that enable readers to share the latest discoveries in science and evolve the discussion amongst the global scientific community.

Researchers shed new light on G-quadruplexes, a type of secondary DNA structure that has attracted attention as a potential therapeutic target in cancer.

A team led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers has identified a key mechanism responsible for endosomal recycling in cells, a process critical to human health. Their findings, published in Nature Communications, answer a fundamental question in cell biology and could lead to therapies for conditions including neurological disorders and cancer.

Ultrawide-bandgap semiconductors—such as diamond—are promising for next-generation electronics due to a larger energy gap between the valence and conduction bands, allowing them to handle higher voltages, operate at higher frequencies, and provide greater efficiency compared to traditional materials like silicon.

At Photonics West, learn how PI's advanced positioning technologies are transforming photonics manufacturing and enhancing precision in various applications.

Nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) enzymes are essential in creating important medications, such as penicillin and cyclosporine. This is done through a multi-step process where the enzymes activate amino acid building blocks and convert them into elongated peptides.

Plasmons are collective oscillations of electrons in a solid and are important for a wide range of applications, such as sensing, catalysis, and light harvesting. Plasmonic waves that travel along the surface of a metal, called surface plasmon polaritons, have been studied for their ability to enhance electromagnetic fields.

In a study recently published in the journal Nano Letters, researchers from Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan, used frequency-modulated atomic force microscopy to reveal the submolecular structure of microtubule (MT) inner surface and visualize structural defects in the MT lattice, providing valuable insights into the complex dynamic processes that regulate microtubule function.

Researchers at University of Tsukuba have developed a new imaging method that clearly visualizes nanoscale structures within rubber materials. The study is published in the journal ACS Applied Nano Materials.

When Ben Orlando delivered a 2019 research talk at Michigan state University's Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, it set the stage for a collaborative breakthrough that was decades in the making.

Researchers have identified the first high-resolution experimentally determined structure in proteins that helps them survive harsh conditions such as radiation, heat and even the vacuum of space.

Endothelin is a peptide hormone known for its vasoconstrictive effects. Researchers at University of Tsukuba used cryo-electron microscopy to examine the complex structure of the endothelin receptor and G protein, which are crucial for signal transduction at the cell membrane. This study has clarified the mechanism of signal transduction between cells.

The membrane that surrounds cells in living organisms is extremely flexible and sensitive. How it protects itself from damage and renews itself is crucial for many life processes, and is not yet fully understood in detail. Scientists at Forschungszentrum Jülich have now been able to gain fascinating new insights using cryo-electron microscopy.

Author(s): Thomas Gisler, David Hälg, Vincent Dumont, Shobhna Misra, Letizia Catalini, Eric C. Langman, Albert Schliesser, Christian L. Degen, and Alexander EichlerSensing the magnetic field emitted by individual nuclear spins would allow important insights into the structures of proteins and nanoscale devices. Toward this goal, ultrasensitive silicon nitride resonators have recently emerged as scanning force sensors, but to achieve the sensitivity required for single-spin sensing, the readout noise of these sensors must be reduced. In this work, the authors demonstrate a scanning force microscope based on a silicon nitride membrane embedded in an optical cavity for low-noise readout. They find that laser phase noise crucially impacts the sensor’s usable bandwidth. [Phys. Rev. Applied 22, 044001] Published Tue Oct 01, 2024

In North Carolina, where Jacob Gardner, Assistant Professor in Computer and Information Science, grew up, hurricanes arrive like unwelcome

Understanding the dissolution processes of minerals can provide key insights into geochemical processes. Attempts to explain some of the observations during the dissolution of calcite (CaCO3) have led to the hypothesis that a hydration layer forms, although this has been contested.

A team of researchers has developed a novel computational imaging system designed to address the challenges of real-time monitoring in ultrafast laser material processing. The new system, known as Dual-Path Snapshot Compressive Microscopy (DP-SCM), represents a significant advancement in the field, offering unprecedented capabilities for high-speed, high-resolution imaging. The team was led by Yuan Xin from Westlake University and Shi Liping from Xidian University.

Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, used high-speed atomic force microscopy to observe dynamic changes in AMPA receptors, which are vital for brain communication. Their findings, published in ACS Nano, reveal how these receptors adapt during signal transmission and suggest potential targets for neurological therapies.

Electron microscope (EM) has revolutionized our ability to visualize the intricate details inside cells. The advancement to 3D electron microscopy, known as volume EM (vEM), has further expanded this three-dimensional, nanoscale imaging capacity. However, trade-offs between imaging speed, quality, and sample size still limit the achievable imaging area and volume. Concurrently, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a pivotal force across various scientific domains, driving breakthroughs and serving as a vital tool in the scientific process.

A team of researchers has developed the first transmission electron microscope which operates at the temporal resolution of a single attosecond, allowing for the first still-image of an electron in motion.

Scientists have created the world's fastest microscope, which they hope will answer fundamental questions about how electrons behave.

Imagine owning a camera so powerful it can take freeze-frame photographs of a moving electron—an object traveling so fast it could circle the Earth many times in a matter of a second. Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed the world's fastest electron microscope that can do just that.

Electron microscopy has enabled visualization of the intricate details inside cells. The advancement to 3D electron microscopy, known as volume EM (vEM), has further expanded this three-dimensional, nanoscale imaging capacity. However, trade-offs between imaging speed, quality, and sample size still limit the achievable imaging area and volume.

Scientists used cutting-edge electron microscopy to explore the structural phase transitions of a novel magnetic material that has attracted significant attention for its unique ferromagnetic properties and potential applications in spintronics.

A team developed a new microscopy technique that uses electrical pulses to track the nanosecond dynamics within a material that is known to form charge density waves. Controlling these waves may lead to faster and more energy-efficient electronics.

Charge density waves have applications in next-generation and energy-efficient computing.

Today's supercomputers consume vast amounts of energy, equivalent to the power usage of thousands of homes. In response, researchers are developing a more energy-efficient form of next-generation supercomputing that leverages artificial neural networks.

Researchers at Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, IMDEA Nanoscience (Madrid, Spain) and CNB-CSIC (Madrid, Spain) report in ACS Nano experiments that reveal a cycle of conformational stages that recombinant Influenza A genomes pass through during RNA synthesis.

Researchers are working on a new quantum electron microscope to eliminate interaction between the electron beam and sample.

Author(s): A.H. Tavabi, P. Rosi, R.B.G. Ravelli, A. Gijsbers, E. Rotunno, T. Guner, Y. Zhang, A. Roncaglia, L. Belsito, G. Pozzi, T. Denneulin, G.C. Gazzadi, M. Ghosh, R. Nijland, S. Frabboni, P.J. Peters, E. Karimi, P. Tiemeijer, R.E. Dunin-Borkowski, and V. GrilloChirality can appear at many length scales in nature. In this study the authors introduce as a quantitative geometric measure of chirality for two-dimensional objects. They apply this measure to evaluate the chirality of nanometer-sized structures with an electron microscope. They employ an innovative electron-optics device, the , which applies a log-polar conformal mapping to the electron wave function and reaches near-optimal resolution in orbital angular momentum. [Phys. Rev. Applied 22, 014083] Published Wed Jul 31, 2024

In the search for more efficient and sustainable energy generation methods, a class of materials called metal halide perovskites have shown great promise. In the few years since their discovery, novel solar cells based on these materials have already achieved efficiencies comparable to commercial silicon solar cells.

Physicists are developing quantum microscopy which enables them for the first time to record the movement of electrons at the atomic level with both extremely high spatial and temporal resolution. Their method has the potential to enable scientists to develop materials in a much more targeted way than before.

Physicists at the University of Stuttgart under the leadership of Prof. Sebastian Loth are developing quantum microscopy which enables them for the first time to record the movement of electrons at the atomic level with both extremely high spatial and temporal resolution.

Physicists are developing quantum microscopy which enables them for the first time to record the movement of electrons at the atomic level with both extremely high spatial and temporal resolution. Their method has the potential to enable scientists to develop materials in a much more targeted way than before.

Researchers at Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University report the 3D imaging of a suspended nanostructure. The technique used is an extension of atomic force microscopy and is a promising approach for visualizing various 3D biological systems.

A research team from Japan, including scientists from Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE 6501, Hitachi), Kyushu University, RIKEN, and HREM Research Inc. (HREM), has achieved a major breakthrough in the observation of magnetic fields at unimaginably small scales.

The technique used is an extension of atomic force microscopy and is a promising approach for visualizing various 3D biological systems.

Scientists at the University of Konstanz in Germany have advanced ultrafast electron microscopy to unprecedented time resolution. Reporting in Science Advances, the research team presents a method for the all-optical control, compression, and characterization of electron pulses within a transmission electron microscope using terahertz light. Additionally, the researchers have discovered substantial anti-correlations in the time domain for two-electron and three-electron states, providing deeper insight into the quantum physics of free electrons.

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Using cryo-electron microscopy, a team of scientists from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU), the Swedish universities of Umeå and Uppsala and the University of Potsdam has succeeded in visualizing atomic structures at an unprecedented nanometer-level resolution during the process of photosynthesis.

Today, optical microscopy is one of the most widely used methods in various multidisciplinary fields for inspecting objects, organisms, or surfaces on a small scale. However, its lateral resolution is fundamentally limited by the diffraction of light—a constraint that, with the use of conventional lenses, has become increasingly critical as the demand for higher resolutions grows.

The compound of iron and aluminum with the chemical formula Fe3Al has some very useful mechanical properties. A team from Osaka University has combined simulations with experimental techniques to better understand the kinetics of the formation of microstructures to enhance and utilize these properties for specific applications.

Nature is the foremost international weekly scientific journal in the world and is the flagship journal for Nature Portfolio. It publishes the finest peer-reviewed research in all fields of science and technology on the basis of its originality, importance, interdisciplinary interest, timeliness, accessibility, elegance and surprising conclusions. Nature publishes landmark papers, award winning news, leading comment and expert opinion on important, topical scientific news and events that enable readers to share the latest discoveries in science and evolve the discussion amongst the global scientific community.

Researchers have discovered how the protein XPD detects severe DNA damage and controls its repair.

Oxford Instruments Asylum Research today announces the release of AR Maps, a new and powerful data analysis software package for the Jupiter XR atomic force microscope (AFM).

Researchers at ETH Zurich have successfully detected electron vortices in graphene for the first time using a high-resolution magnetic field sensor. The study was published in the scientific journal Science.

In plants and animals, the basic packaging units of DNA, which carry genetic information, are the so-called nucleosomes. A nucleosome consists of a segment of DNA wound around eight proteins known as histones.

A NIMS research team has developed a technique that enables the nanoscale observation of heat propagation paths and behavior within material specimens. This was achieved using a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) capable of emitting a pulsed electron beam and a nanosized thermocouple—a high-precision temperature measurement device developed by NIMS. The research is published in Science Advances.

A method for measuring the temperature of nanometer-sized samples within a transmission electron microscope (TEM) has been developed by Professor Oh-Hoon Kwon and his research team in the Department of Chemistry at UNIST.

Researchers have shown that expensive aberration-corrected microscopes are no longer required to achieve record-breaking microscopic resolution.