• The laser you see in the photo above may one day enhance images taken by the most powerful microscopes in biology. • This advancement, detailed in a paper published in eLife from scientists at Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute with the Maxson lab at Cornell University, could revolutionize research into the molecules that allow the brain to function properly and underlie diseases.
Article Summaries:
- Scientists at Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute and Cornell’s Maxson lab have reported a laser‑based method that could dramatically improve cryo‑electron tomography (cryo‑ET) imaging. By delivering ultrafast, trillion‑second pulses, the technique reduces radiation damage and enhances image contrast, potentially allowing researchers to visualize macromolecular structures in brain tissue with unprecedented clarity. The laser system operates at a frequency that aligns with the natural timescales of molecular motion, enabling time‑resolved imaging of dynamic processes. Published in eLife, the findings suggest the approach could accelerate studies of neural proteins and disease‑related molecular pathways, paving the way for more detailed investigations of brain function and disorders.
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