Portrait of a living cell: three-dimensional, interactive, translucent

Scientists from the University of California at Los Angeles have created a three-dimensional X-ray microscope. With the help of this device, it is possible to obtain three-dimensional images of cells with high resolution.

Three-dimensional image of a yeast cell spore (pay attention to the organelles),
obtained based on the analysis of a series of two-dimensional images (one of them is shown on the right).
The scale size is 0.5 microns.

The next stage of computer processing allows you to see the cell from all sides
(in some browsers, in order for the image to rotate, you need to double-click on it)

The resolution of the device, described in detail in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (Huaidong Jiang et al., Quantitative 3D imaging of whole, unstained cells by using X-ray diffraction microscopy), is up to 40 nanometers. In other words, it can be used to consider two points that are 40 nm apart from each other – conventional optical microscopes do not allow this in principle.

X-rays are needed precisely to circumvent the limitation associated with the wavelength of light. As the inventors say, with the help of their microscope, it will be possible to study not only yeast spores, but also spores of pathogenic microorganisms.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru according to the materials GZT.RU10.06.2010