microscope
Latest
Ultra-thin handheld microscope could sniff out skin cancer, forged documents
It may not look like it, but that sleek black thing pictured above is actually a microscope. Designed by engineers at Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF, this little guy boasts a 5.3mm optical length, rendering it slim enough to fit in the palm of your hand, yet powerful enough to deliver images at a scanner-like resolution of five micrometers, over a wide surface area. Fraunhofer's researchers achieved this balance by essentially tossing out the manual on traditional microscope design. Whereas most devices slowly scan areas and construct images on a piecemeal basis, this handheld uses several small imaging channels and a collection of tiny lenses to record equal sized fragments of a given surface. Unlike conventional scanner microscopes, all of these 300 x 300 square micrometer imaging channels are captured at the same time. With a single swipe, then, users can record 36 x 24 square mm shots of matchbox-sized objects, without even worrying about blurring the images with their shaky hands. The prototype is still two years away from going into production, but once it does, engineers say it could help doctors scan patients for skin cancer more easily, while also allowing bureaucrats to quickly confirm the authenticity of official documents. We can only imagine what it could do for Pac-Man. Full PR after the break.
University of Twente's new lens reveals the sub-100nm level with visible light
Small is beautiful, but only when you can see it. Specifically, we're talking about nanostructures -- including cellular organelles and nanoelectronic circuits -- around the order of 100nm. The problem is with a microscope, visible light only takes us down to a resolution of 200nm at best, and it's not always ideal to use conventional methods to boost the resolution -- you'd either have to dope the subject with fluorescent dye or use highly delicate equipment. Thankfully, the University of Twente has come up with a new type of lens that would solve this problem: in a nutshell, a nanoparticle is placed on one side of the gallium phosphide lens, while the other side -- disorderedly etched with acid -- takes in a precisely modulated laser beam and scatters it into a focal point of your choice. Sure, this sounds bizarre and ironic, but apparently the modulation is controlled in such a way that the scattered beam focuses much tighter than an ordinary beam would using an ordinary lens. Have a look at the comparison shots of some gold nanoparticles after the break -- that's some sweet 97nm resolution right there for ya.
Engineers create 3D microscope lens, see the tiny elephants in your ear
The ability to view tiny images in the third D has been made possible by Lei Li and Allen Yi of Ohio State University. The two have crafted a one-of-a-kind 3D lens that, unlike other three-dimensional microscopes that capture images by circling around the subject, sees teeny objects while stationary. Although the engineers crafted the lens on a precision cutting machine using a diamond blade themselves, they say it can be produced using traditional molding methods. At the size of a fingernail, the thermoplastic material, aka acrylic glass, was cut with 10 nanometer spacing (that's tiny) to ensure a flat plane. The top is surrounded by eight facets -- sort of like a gem stone, but not symmetric -- allowing the viewer to see 9 different angles at once. This should pave way for scientists to get better angles of microscopic objects, but they can always try using the 3DS and some DIY lens attachments, right?
Microscopic Pac-Man installation makes a play for the smallest part of your heart
"Cute" doesn't even begin to accurately describe it. Kotoro "dotimpact" Tanaka, a Japanese design professor, has been credited with designing what may actually be the world's smallest game of Pac-Man. The microscopic installation was recently showcased at the 30th anniversary Pac-Man exhibition, utilizing original Pac-Man hardware, a projector and a microscope in order to blow up a minuscule game of cat and ghost for human eyes to recognize. We're told that it's able to reflect its image through a mirror in order to produce a 1cm square image at a resolution of 1439 pixels per inch (PPI), and users are highly encouraged to screw with the zoom and focus controls in order to heighten the level of difficulty. So, dotimpact... how's about an on sale date?
Cool mod: iPhone as digital microscope
Here's a great and super-simple mod that turns an iPhone 4 into a portable digital microscope. Using an inexpensive microscope found on Amazon (seven bucks as of this writing), an iPhone case and some superglue, this user has hacked together a stable, portable digital microscope that also takes pictures. The iPhone's flat back makes attaching the microscope super easy. After getting it glued to the case, simply snap it onto the iPhone and start observing things close up! For bonus points, pair the iPhone with BlueCam for iPad, which feeds an iPhone 4's live video stream to an iPad via Bluetooth for big-screen observations. We love this mod! Very well done. [Via DVICE]
Kindle, iPad, and paper examined microscopically
The above image is a picture of the iPad's screen, multiplied by 24 times over. Keith Peters at Bit-101 used his new USB microscope to examine a few different e-reader displays up really close, and the results are definitely a fun read. The iPad doesn't do too well, actually -- I think the Kindle looks much cleaner, although there's some debate about that in the comments, so each to his own. At any rate, it's cool to see how these displays "work" -- the actual pixels going into the picture that our eyes just collate into full text. The 400x newspaper, book, and magazine closeups are very interesting as well. With all of the digital display talk going around, you tend to forget what those displays are actually trying to recreate, which is really very organic smears on a thin fabric. Unfortunately, Keith didn't get his hands on the Retina Display, and you'd assume that's a game changer. With four times the pixels seen in the image above, the iPhone 4's display probably gives the Kindle a nice challenge, and might even start competing with the actual paper printing. Still, until that display makes its way to the tablet, this is the best we've got for now.
IBM scientists study deep-sea mud juice with atomic force microscope, find orchid juice (video)
The discovery of novel chemical compounds is a huge part of modern pharmaceutical research. The problem is, there aren't too many novel places left on the globe left to look. One of the least studied is at the deepest place on Earth, the bottom of the Mariana Trench, and that's just where researchers at the University of Aberdeen found some mud to play with. However, they weren't able to accurately identify the compounds found in the pile of trench goop they were analyzing. A call to scientists at IBM Zurich resulted in an opportunity to play with their atomic force microscope, a device that uses a tiny probe with a tip that actually "feels" the surface of whatever you're looking at. With this the team was able to determine the nature of the compounds being generated by bacteria in the mud: cephalandole A, also generated by the Taiwanese orchid Cephalanceropsis gracilis. Now, instead of getting your significant other a beautiful orchid for some special occasion you can fill a vase with mud and romantically explain how they both generate the same basic compounds. [Thanks, Chris]
iPhone 4 and iPhone 3G screens go head-to-head under the microscope
We got up pretty close to the iPhone 4's retina display in our review, but we can't say we got quite as close as PhD candidates Ryan White and Bryan Gauntt of Penn State University, who have kindly provided us with some images of the screen under a microscope (along with an iPhone 3G for comparison). According to their measurements, the iPhone 3G's pixels measure 13 x 40 microns, while the iPhone 4's measure 6.5 x 20 microns, which adds up to exactly four times as many pixels. As impressive as sounds that sounds, however, it's the pictures that really tell the story -- hit up the gallery below to check them out. %Gallery-96159%
Thanko USB dental device will help prove you still need a dentist
Oh, the joys of self-diagnosis. Thanko's unleashed a USB dental "microscope" to let you check out the inside of your own mouth in great detail -- because you're so much more knowledgeable than a real dentist, right? This puppy's got six LEDs plus a small CMOS camera so you can shoot JPEGs / BMPs or 1,280×1024 resolution vids of your champers then check them out on your home computer. Of course, the sample shots (which are disgusting and after the break) inexplicably show a closeup of someone's scalp, demonstrating that this USB badboy has a variety of uses, all of them pretty gross. Is there something wrong with us if we just don't want to see our bodies in that much detail? It's only available on Thanko's Japanese site for the time being, and costs in the neighborhood of $80, but we have a feeling that it'll show up in the States anyday now... as soon as Oprah gets wind of it. [Via Gizmodo]
CellScope, the cellphone microscope, gets UV upgrade to spot tiny glowing things
It was over a year ago that UC Berkeley introduced the world to CellScope, the 60x microscope for cellphones made from cheap, off the shelf components (like a re-purposed belt clip). Now, even though we're disappointingly still not seeing this thing in stores, there's an upgraded version able to take pictures of even smaller nasties. Using a filter the scope can now spot microscopic critters tagged with dye that glows under fluorescent light -- things like Mycobacterium tuberculosis (that's the cause of TB if you, like us, lack a med degree). A software app is able to then count the number of cells within a given sample and tell you whether to worry about that annoying cough. There's still no word on whether this product will ever actually start scoping out such things in the wild, but we certainly hope it will -- if only so that we can keep our vast collection of cellphone accessories complete. Video after the break.[Via Crave]
World's smallest periscope provides multi-dimensional view of cells
We never thought we'd say this, but the standard microscope's day may be coming to an end. Okay, so maybe that's a stretch, but a new device conjured up by scientists at Vanderbilt University sure could stand in as a suitable and deserving replacement. In what's being described as the world's smallest version of the periscope, the so-called mirrored pyramidal wells are being used to allow researchers to see several sides of cells simultaneously. The pyramidal-shaped cavities are molded into silicon "whose interior surfaces are coated with a reflective layer of gold or platinum," and when a cell is placed inside, it gives Earthlings a magical multi-dimensional view. It's said that this technology is actually stupendously inexpensive compared to other methods of 3D microscopy, and according to Vandy's own Ron Reiserer, this "could easily become as ubiquitous as the microscope slide." Them's fightin' words, no?[Via Physorg]
Nikon unveils Fabre Photo EX DSLR-based stereoscopic microscope
Sure, we've seen homebrew digital microscopes built out of old webcams and proper digital 'scopes with USB interfaces, but if you're really serious about your closeups, Nikon's new Fabre Photo EX system is probably calling your name. The stereoscopic microscope can be fitted to a Nikon DSLR back to capture images, with max magnification based on sensor size and crop factor -- FX backs will yield 20x zoom, while a DX back will let you keep tabs on your favorite c. elegans at 45x. Various attachments can boost that up to 66x, and there's even an adapter that'll let you mount various Coolpix compacts to the system -- although we doubt that'll look nearly as imposing on your lab bench. Mad scientists can order as of February 20th, provided they're in Japan and have an extra ¥108,150 ($1214) for the microscope and ¥37,800 ($424) for the DSLR mount handy. On more pic after the break.[Via Slashgear]
Brando's USB Digital Microscope is perfect for at-home cell studies
If you're too strapped for cash to afford a real-deal microscope, and your expired college ID won't get you into the lab any longer, why not pull the trigger on Brando's USB Digital Microscope? Described as "amazingly easy to use," this here 'scope can be utilized for "various applications such as science and engineering work and study, dermatology (skin / scalp) exams, detailed repair and assembly." Or, you can just use it as "a reading aid." Which is a fantastic idea if you actually don't want to read anything at all. Anywho, sure sounds like bundles of fun for just $75.
Microscopic microscope could fit on cellphones, cost just $10
Make no mistake, microscopes have been getting increasingly smaller for years, but a team of CalTech researchers have leapfrogged previous efforts by creating one minuscule enough to fit on a cellphone. The microscopic optofluidic microscope could one day be used in third-world nations to "analyze blood samples for malaria or check water supplies for giardia and other pathogens," and given that it could theoretically be mass produced for around $10, cost shouldn't be too much of a hindrance. Changhuei Yang, credited for developing the chip, is currently chatting it up with biotech companies in order to get this to the market, but there's no word yet on any takers.[Via Physorg]
Toshiba's tiny IK-HD1 camera used in Olympus Synergy-HD microscope system
Time to bust open the memory vault. Aw, don't kvetch too much, we're only talkin' last month. Toshiba Imaging's diminutive IK-HD1 3CCD HDTV camera, which was showcased at NAB Show 2008, has found its way into Olympus' new Synergy-HD Microscope Imaging System. The two have partnered up in order to deliver a clinical microscope for pathology and teaching that transmits 1,920 x 1,080 resolution imagery onto a bundled 42- or 47-inch 1080p LCD monitor. Folks interested in the system can also snag an additional PC with an HD-SDI frame grabber for showing off captures in front of a group -- and making everyone in attendance unquestionably nauseous.
Cellphone as microscope on the cheap, bugs beware
Go tech students! This handy idea, brought to you by the minds at University of California, Berkeley, brings up to a 60x microscope to your cell for roughly $75. The 60x attachment is useful for diagnosing things like Malaria while in the field, while its weaker 5x sibling can be used to look at skin conditions. The prototype was apparently made from off the shelf components -- including some low power LEDs that illuminate the subject -- and snaps in place with a modified belt clip. This is a pretty handy piece of kit when you consider how much easier it may be to snap a pic of something and fire it off to a lab via a data connection instead of having to physically bring a sample. We're sure the poor soul featured in the pic we have here agrees, as it looks like he / she may have a tiny shrimp infestation. [Via MAKE Blog]
JAKKS Pacific announces EyeClops BioniCam portable microscope
If microscopes like those from Celestron are a bit more than you need, you may want to keep an eye out for JAKKS Pacific's upcoming EyeClops BioniCam, which is obviously aimed at kids but, as we've seen in the past, will no doubt appeal to more adventuresome users out there as well. A follow-up to the company's EyeClops Bionic Eye, this one ups the features considerably with the addition of an LCD screen, which you can use to peek at things at magnification levels of 100x, 200x or 400x. Also like that considerably higher-end Celestron, this one packs a built-in digital camera (no word on the resolution) and an included USB thumb drive to make transfers to a computer as easy as can be. No word on a price just yet, unfortunately, though you can look for it to hit stores sometime this fall.[Via SlashGear]
Celestron to debut new LCD digital microscope at CES
It looks like those in need of something a little more serious than a DIY microscope will soon have a new option to consider from Celestron, which is set to debut its new LCD digital microscope at CES. Up front and center on this one, as you can see, is a relatively large 3.5-inch LCD, which gets paired with a 2 megapixel digital camera and, of course, a microscope that'll let you take a peek at things at magnification levels up to 40x. You'll also get 128MB of internal memory to store those extreme close-ups for posterity and, thankfully, an SD card slot for further expansion. No word on a price just yet, but you'll apparently be able to get your hands on one sometime in February.[Via I4U News]
Build a digital microscope from a webcam
Sure, it won't get you live 3D representations of living cells, but this little USB microscope mashup over at Instructables should nab you some sweet pics of up-close detail with a minimum of effort. You can pull it off with basically any simple webcam -- the one pictured here cost $5 -- and toy microscope, but you'll have to a little creative wiresplicing to get the white LED light source powered off USB as well. Still, it's a neat project if you've got the time -- now get to work!
Olympus creates 'world's smallest questionnaire' on specimen slide
We've seen ways in which quite a few marketers earned their bonus, but the bright lad (or dame) who dreamed this one up deserves a serious promotion. In what's likely to be confirmed as the "world's smallest questionnaire," Olympus sent out slides with questions to valued high-end microscope customers in order to boost awareness and hopefully drum up more business. The survey was shipped just like any other specimen slide, and it reportedly drove up traffic to the firm's website by around 24-percent. Click on for a closeup of the actual questions.[Via OhGizmo]
