Microscopy

Microscopy is an umbrella term to describe techniques used to analyse small samples that cannot be viewed with the naked eye. There is a wide range of microscopy techniques and scientific instruments available that can be used depending on their applications. A microscope magnifies tiny objects or samples and can provide a wealth of vital information about their cell structure, contamination, parasites and so much more.

This hub will contain all of the information you need to know about microscopy and will include the latest news and fascinating research articles. Whether you are looking to expand your knowledge of compound microscopes or fluorescence microscopy, you will find it all here under featured articles and the latest interviews.

What is Microscopy?

The word microscope is derived from the Greek “mikros”, meaning small and, “skopein” meaning to see.

Light Microscopy Techniques in Virology: An Overview

Electron Microscopy: An Overview

TEM Imaging Modes

Microscopy’s Involvement in Brain Imaging

‘Staining’ of Biological Samples when Using Electron Microscopy: Why stain density matters

Intravital Kidney Microscopy: An Overview

Expansion Microscopy in Neurology

How Do Spectrometer Accessories Elevate Instrument Capabilities?

Diagnosing Alzheimer's Using Microscopy

Photobleaching in Fluorescence Microscopy

Visualizing the 3D Architecture of Tissues

See more featured articles »

Uses of Microscopy in Forensics

Confocal Microscopy: An Overview

Investigating the Applications of Meoscopy

Microscopy and Artificial Intelligence

Applications of Scanning Electron Microscopy

TEM Imaging Modes

Differentiating Tumors using Microscopy

Deep Learning in Fluorescence Microscopy

Cryo-Electron Microscopy: An Overview

Applications of IVIS (In Vivo Imaging Systems)

Microscopy in Oncology Research: Visualizing Tumor Microenvironments

Live-Cell Imaging with Super-Resolution Microscopy

Avoiding Cell Death in Fluorescence Microscopy

‘Staining’ of Biological Samples when Using Electron Microscopy: Why stain density matters

Phase-Contrast Microscopy: An Overview

What is Expansion Microscopy?

Advances in Scanning Electron Microscopy

Role of Microscopy in Ballistics

Confocal Reflection Microscopy for Cell Migration Studies

Two-photon Microscopy Principles and Methodology

Using Electron Microscopy to Detect Viruses

Optical Microscopy: An Overview

Microscopes in Forensic Epidemiology- An Overview

Applications of 3D X-ray Microscopy

Using Microscopy for Deep In Vivo Brain Imaging

The Digital Evolution of Microscopy

Using Scanning Electron Microscopy to Image SARS-CoV-2

What is Confocal Imaging?

Identifying Corpses Using Microscopy

Imaging Techniques in Drug Discovery

Light Microscopy Techniques in Virology: An Overview

Optimizing Live Cell Imaging with FRET Microscopy

Imaging Nuclear Structures Using AFM

What are Polarized Light Microscopes and How Do They Work?

Transmission Electron Microscopy: An Overview

Investigating the Intersection between Microscopy and Healthcare

Scanning Helium Microscopy: An Overview

What is 3D X-Ray Microscopy?

Applications of Polarized Light Microscopy

What is FIB-SEM?

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM): An Overview

Advances in Fluorescence Microscopy

Why Size Matters in Microscopy

What is High-Resolution TEM (HR-TEM)?

Fluorescence Microscopy: An Overview

What is Environmental Forensic Microscopy?

How do Epifluorescence Microscopes Work?

Optimizing Live Cell Imaging with FRET Microscopy

X-ray Microscopy: An Overview

The Determination of Post-Mortem Interval (PMI) Using Transmission Electron Microscopy

Advantages and Limitations of Fluorescence Microscopy

Understanding the Brain Through Electron Microscopy

Latest Microscopy News and Research

Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Maps Neuroblastoma Intratumoral Heterogeneity

Neuroblastoma is the most common solid tumor found outside of the brain in children, yet why some children respond well to treatment while others do not has remained poorly understood. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists and their collaborators built one of the most comprehensive datasets of neuroblastoma cells to date, using it to define the tumor's cell types and identify a gene signature marking a malignant cell population tied to poor prognosis.

10 Oct 2026

Enzyme Knockdown Repolarizes Immune Cells for Targeted Immunotherapy

Our bodies contain immune cells called macrophages.

8 Oct 2026

Researchers Discover Novel Protein Plug Mechanism in Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

A joint research team led by Professor Hongbaek Cho of the Department of Biological Sciences at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) and Professor Jeong Min Chung of the Department of Biotechnology at The Catholic University of Korea has identified a new mechanism underlying antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a major multidrug-resistant "superbug."

8 Oct 2026

Collision-Sensing Enables Efficient Bacterial Navigation Through Complex Micro-Scale Mazes

Whether in fish schools, bird flocks or human crowds, moving as a group can offer safety and efficiency, but it can also lead to congestion and jamming," says Alexandre Persat, Professor at EPFL.

7 Oct 2026

Newly Discovered Hair Cells on Squid May Offer Clues to Understand Hearing Loss in Humans

Scientists for years have known that squids have cells with bundles of tiny, hair-like protrusions on their heads and arms like those buried deep inside the human ear that allow us to hear.

6 Oct 2026

Higher-Order Receptor Clustering Acts as Hidden Lymphangiogenic Signal Amplifier

Lymphatic vessels act as the body's "drainage system," collecting excess fluid from tissues. When lymphatic drainage is impaired because lymphatic vessels are underdeveloped, damaged, or dysfunctional, lymphedema can develop, causing swelling, particularly in the arms and legs.

6 Oct 2026

Targeting Host Cellular Repair Mechanisms Enhances Tissue Resistance to Infection

Epithelial cells form the body's frontline barriers, helping keep microbes, toxins, and other harmful substances out. Yet these protective cells are constantly exposed to threats, including microbial infections.

6 Oct 2026

Invasive E. coli Strains Promote Host Invasion of Harmless Strains

When scientists assess how dangerous a bacterium is, the first question often seems simple: can it be stopped or killed?

1 Oct 2026

Electron Microscopy Imaging Confirms Piezo1-Dependent Axonal Sheath Structural Remodeling

Researchers at Upstate Medical University have identified a key mechanism that helps determine the length of myelin, the protective coating that surrounds many nerve fibers and allows signals to travel efficiently through the nervous system.

1 Oct 2026

AI Decodes Spatial DNA Packaging Patterns Invisible to Researchers

Aging progressively affects the functioning of our body and, among other things, deteriorates the ability of the hematopoietic system- the set of organs and tissues responsible for producing blood cells- to maintain adequate blood cell production.

28 Sep 2026

Cryo-ET Reveals Native Membrane Architecture of Synchronous RyR1 Calcium Channels

Using cryo-electron microscopy, researchers at the Max Delbrück Center have revealed how muscle cell calcium channels open synchronously. The findings, published in "Nature Communications," may explain a mechanism behind serious muscle diseases.

25 Sep 2026

Ultra-High-Resolution 3D Microscopy Captures Distinct Presynaptic Protein Organization States

A new study led by researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health examines how different versions of the same protein can alter neuronal communication.

25 Sep 2026

Trans-spliceosome Architecture Maps Evolutionary Divergence in Eukaryotic RNA Processing

A study conducted between the University of Liège and Rockefeller University reveals, with near-atomic precision, the three-dimensional structure and function of a gigantic molecular machine essential to the survival of trypanosomatid parasites, which cause serious diseases in humans, animals and plants.

24 Sep 2026

Cambridge Researchers Look Inside Living Antarctic Cells for First Time

Engineers have built the first microscope to see inside living cells in sub-zero conditions, revealing secrets of Antarctic fish survival.

23 Sep 2026

Mitochondrial RNA May Explain How Tumors Become Resistant to Immunotherapy

Research highlights mitochondrial RNA's influence on interferon signaling, linking chronic exposure to tumor growth and offering new avenues for immunotherapy.

22 Sep 2026

Tracking Dynamic Mitochondrial Networks Beyond Flat Snapshots Assesses Cellular Health

Mitochondria - tiny structures that convert nutrients into energy - are often depicted as discrete kidney bean-shaped objects.

18 Sep 2026

Study Provides Novel Structural Model for CaMKIIα Synaptic Accumulation

Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) at Kanazawa University, Kyoto University, SOKENDAI, and the National Institute for Physiological Sciences have revealed how CaMKIIα-a key brain protein involved in learning and memory-organizes itself into chain-like structures.

17 Sep 2026

Cryo-EM Captures Interactions Between BRD4 Bromodomains and Nucleosomal DNA

Researchers have uncovered a new 3D structure of a cancer-linked protein bound to its cellular partner, detailing how it attaches to chromosomes and offering key insights for future disease treatments.

16 Sep 2026

Research Reveals Molecular Link Between Matrix Protein Motifs and Ameloblast Organization

Tooth enamel looks simple from the outside and consists of a hard, smooth surface built to withstand years of wear.

12 Sep 2026

New Insights Into How Giant-Nucleus Cells Promote Early-Stage Cancer Growth

Iron is an essential micronutrient, but excess iron can damage cells and increase cancer risk. While many cells die from iron-induced oxidative stress, a subset survives and may become cancerous. Previously, the identity of these surviving cells was unclear.

11 Sep 2026