Electron microscope

New electron microscope captures movements of atoms and molecules

December 3, 2013

A new microscope invented at MSU allows scientists to zoom in on the movements of atoms and molecules (credit: MSU)

A new microscope invented at Michigan State Universityallows scientists to zoom in on the movements of atoms and molecules.

Electron microscopes allow scientists to see the structure of microorganisms, cells, metals, crystals and other tiny structures that weren’t visible with light microscopes. But the relationship between structure and function could only be estimated because of static images. In the 1990s, researchers added a fourth dimension — time — by using a laser to capture images of gaseous molecules as they were reacting.