Microscopy News and Research

Latest Microscopy News and Research

Scientists Unravel the Mystery of Parkinson's Disease With 3D Protein Structures

Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital revealed the complex structure of two Parkinson's disease-related proteins, both of which are implicated in late-onset cases.

26 Dec 2023

Cracking the Code of the Cytoplasm: How Cells Organize Protein Production

Back in 2018, the lab of Christine Mayr, MD, PhD, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) introduced the world to a key cellular component that had been hiding in plain sight.

22 Dec 2023

Structural Insights Unmask Novel Adaptations and Functions of Human LINE-1 ORF2

Martin Taylor, MD, PhD, a physician investigator in the Department of Pathology at Massachusetts General Hospital and an instructor in Pathology at Harvard Medical School, is the lead corresponding author of a new study in Nature, Structural Analysis and Inhibition of Human LINE-1 ORF2 Protein Reveals Novel Adaptations and Functions.

20 Dec 2023

Light-Activated "Good Vibrations" can Destroy Cancer Cells

The Beach Boys' iconic hit single "Good Vibrations" takes on a whole new layer of meaning thanks to a recent discovery by Rice University scientists and collaborators, who have uncovered a way to destroy cancer cells by using the ability of some molecules to vibrate strongly when stimulated by light.

20 Dec 2023

Non-Invasive Early Cancer Detection Using Chromatin Signatures in Mononuclear Blood Cells

Blood cells reveal tumors in the body. Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute achieve an advance with the development of a test for early diagnosis of cancer.

18 Dec 2023

Revealing the Molecular Machinery of Virus Warriors Against Bacterial Infections

The term “virus” is frequently linked with negative implications. Nevertheless, it is crucial to recognize that not all viruses are detrimental.

18 Dec 2023

Cryo-EM Analysis Uncovers Unexpected Enzymatic Switch in Bacterial Anti-Phage System

Scientists have revealed a never-before-seen phenomenon in a protein: Alone, the enzyme processes DNA and RNA but, when bound to another protein as part of a defense system, interacts with a completely different type of compound to help bacteria commit suicide.

14 Dec 2023

Model Helps Researchers 'See' Proteins on AFM Substrates

By employing a computational-based approach, researchers from Kanazawa University have introduced a new method for predicting protein placement on AFM substrates.

13 Dec 2023

SFU-UBC Collaboration Pushes Frontiers of Cellular Biology With AI-Enhanced Super-Resolution Microscopy

In 2014, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry celebrated the breakthroughs in super-resolution microscopy, a technology that allows us to capture highly detailed images of small parts of cells using fluorescent microscopy.

11 Dec 2023

Earliest Evidence of Disease-Causing Fungus Found

A recent breakthrough has unveiled the earliest disease-causing fungus, residing within the fossil collections of the Natural History Museum.

7 Dec 2023

Mathematical Models and Biological Dynamics in Embryo Development

One of life’s enduring fundamental questions revolves around the process of development. Consider human growth—how do cells autonomously arrange themselves into structures like skin, muscles, or bones? How do they coalesce to form intricate organs such as the brain, fingers, or spine?

7 Dec 2023

Revolutionizing Fish Immunology: A Paradigm Shift in Antibody Responses

Upon infection or immunization, antibodies, produced by all jawed vertebrates, serve to bind and neutralize pathogens.

4 Dec 2023

Revolutionizing Precision in Super-Resolution Microscopy

Cutting-edge super-resolution microscopy techniques can now achieve optical resolutions within the range of a few nm, corresponding to the size of cellular molecules.

4 Dec 2023

Understanding Mitochondrial Adaptations to Cellular Metabolism

Employing advanced super-resolution microscopes, scientists from the University of California, Irvine, and the University of Pennsylvania have, for the inaugural time, witnessed the processes of electrical charge and discharge within mitochondria extracted from cells.

28 Nov 2023

A Novel Technique for Ribonucleotide Quantification

Scientists at the Folkhälsan Research Center have devised a novel technique enabling the straightforward quantification of ribonucleotides in small tissue and cell samples within a standard laboratory setting, without the need for specialized equipment.

28 Nov 2023

Fluorescence-Based Actinometers Enable Precise and Versatile Light Intensity Measurements

Accurate measurements of light intensity provide vital data for scientists and everyday applications.

28 Nov 2023

Structural Insights Into Coronavirus Spike Proteins

Coronaviruses employ protein “spikes” to latch onto and infect cells. Contrary to their name, these spikes do not have a rigid and pointed structure. Instead, they resemble chicken drumsticks, with the meaty portion facing outward.

27 Nov 2023

Where Does the Light Come From? Optical Properties Allow Plants to “See” Light

An innovative study led by Professor Christian Fankhauser at UNIL and colleagues at EPFL has combined expertise in biology and engineering to reveal that a light-sensitive plant tissue uses the optical properties of the air-water interface to create a light gradient that is ‘visible’ to the plant.

24 Nov 2023

Novel Approach Reveals Intergenerational Cooperation Among Bacteria

Bacteria collaborate and share nutrients among generations when they form communities. Using a recently invented technique, researchers at the University of Basel have been able to demonstrate this for the first time.

22 Nov 2023

Unraveling the Mystery of L-Cry: A Distinctive Cryptochrome Protein

In a recent release in Nature Communications, a collaborative research group comprising Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), the University of Cologne, and the University of Oldenburg has disclosed their discoveries regarding the operation of a distinctive cryptochrome protein (Cry).

16 Nov 2023