microscopy Archives

Scanning tunneling microscope image of a molecule from the Ryugu sample. b Atomic force microscope image acquired by the multi-pass method. c Processed image of (b). Ring structure is overlaid. The colors are the same as in Fig. 1, but orange represents an eight-membered ring. Red arrows in (a, b) indicate a single CO molecule. The scale bars are 1 nm. -- Nature Communications

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, Sample Return

Discovery Of Unexpectedly Large Organic Molecules from Asteroid Ryugu

by Keith CowingApril 15, 2026April 15, 2026

Overview Using a high-resolution atomic force microscope ( AFM ), we directly observed the skeletal structures of individual organic molecules extracted from the Ryugu sample. We discovered numerous gigantic organic […]

Nikon Experimentation Microscope in Orbit (NEMO)

Space Stations

Nikon Contributes to Research on the Effects of Microgravity in Drug Discovery

by Keith CowingApril 7, 2026October 6, 2026

[Nikon Corporation] (Nikon) is pleased to announce that the live cell observation system developed by Nikon and its U.S.-based subsidiary Nikon Instruments Inc. (NII) has been selected for “research on […]

Anatomy of tardigrade visualized using holotomography. -- Tomography, via PubMed

Exploration Gear & Tech, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

Tricorder Tech: A Non-Invasive, Label-Free Method for Examining Tardigrade Anatomy Using Holotomography

by Keith CowingFebruary 6, 2026February 6, 2026

Background/Objectives: Holotomography is an advanced imaging technique that enables high-resolution, three-dimensional visualization of microscopic specimens without the need for fixation or staining.

Biological and abiotic tubes. SEM images of tubular colonies of a) Aspergillus niger feeding on straw (image: Anna Neubeck) and b) manganese oxide chemical gardens (image: Huld et al., 2023). The A. niger tubes ranged in size between 2-5 µm in diameter, and the manganese oxides were found in ranges between 1–20 µm in size. SEM images of c) A. niger (image: Anna Neubeck), d) manganese oxide chemical gardens (image: Anna Neubeck), and e) A. niger closeup (image: D. Gregory & D. Marshall, CC BY 4.0). -- nlin.PS

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Meteorites & Asteroids, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Status Report

Self-assembled Versus Biological Pattern Formation In Geology

by Keith CowingJanuary 9, 2026January 9, 2026

Both abiotic self-organization and biological mechanisms have been put forward as the origin of a number of geological patterns.

Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architecture of ResNet-18. -- Science Reports via PubMed

AI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Sample Return, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Deep Learning For Microbial Life Detection In Deep Subseafloor Samples: Objective Cell Recognition

by Keith CowingJanuary 6, 2026January 6, 2026

Microscopic detection and enumeration of microbial biomass provide essential primary information about the biosphere.

a cryoEM volume revealing a two-start (C2) helical filament with a pitch p and diameter of 94.6 Å and 260 Å, and a rise and twist of 3.18 Å and 12.1°, respectively; b local interaction network between neighboring cannula protofilaments in which subunits interlock through donor strand complementation along the axial (e.g., i → j → k) direction and partake in further intermolecular contacts mediated by calcium coordination along the axial and radial (e.g., j-1→j → j + 1) direction; c stick representation of three types of calcium pockets: (i) axial stacking of subunits via type I and II calcium binding centers, (ii) radial contacts are mediated via type III Ca2+ binding sites; d raw cryoEM image of a cannulae filaments loaded with a helically winding thinner filament (2 nm; cargo). White arrows denote winding cargo and dangling cargo associated with the cannulae filaments; e surface electrostatics showing a predominantly negatively charged surface and a positively charged lumen for the cannula model. The representative image in this figure (d) is derived from a total of 2365 cryo-EM movies from two technical replicates.-- Nature Communications

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Commercial & Private Sector, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Sample Return, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Extreme Engineering – Unlocking Design Secrets of Deep-sea Microbes

by Keith CowingDecember 7, 2025

The microbe Pyrodictium abyssi is an archaeon — a member of what’s known as the third domain of life — and an extremophile. It lives in deep-sea thermal vents, at […]

The envisioned mission to Enceladus: A lander mission towards the south polar region deploys the “Alien Carousel” ice sampling system. It integrates microfluidics and digital holographic microscopy setup to image and study the movement of microorganisms in a liquid volume. The mechanical system relies on a single rotary actuator. -- Frontiers

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Enceladus, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

Tricorder Tech: Alien Carousel – In Situ Life Detection On Icy Moons With A Single-actuator Holographic Microfluidic Platform

by Keith CowingSeptember 23, 2025September 23, 2025

Enceladus, one of Saturn’s moons, is considered one of the most promising places in the solar system to find life.

The M25 microscope, which can operate in fluorescence and transmitted light modes, can be used to watch the swimming of entire C. elegans worms, a model organism used to study development, neuroscience and aging. Credit Eduardo Hirata Miyasaki

Press Release

Tricorder Tech: Multifocus Microscope Pushes The Limits Of Fast Live 3D Biological Imaging

by Keith CowingAugust 15, 2025September 18, 2026

Editor’s note: as we send increasingly sophisticated astrobiology probes – to more places – often at much greater distances – they will need to be able to do more and […]

NASA astronaut Anne McClain processes bacteria samples iss073e0027808 (May 10, 2025) -- larger image

Astronauts and Explorers, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, People Of Astrobiology, Space Life Science, Space Stations, Status Report

Offworld Microbiology Sample Processing

by Keith CowingJune 12, 2025June 12, 2025

NASA astronaut and Expedition 73 Flight Engineer Anne McClain works in the Kibo laboratory module’s Life Sciences Glovebox processing bacteria samples before viewing them inside a 3D imaging microscope called […]

Portland State University's ELVIS 3D microscopy system during testing here on Earth. (Image credit: Jay Nadeau)

Press Release

ELVIS: Pioneering Imaging System to Enhance Space Biology and Life Detection

by Keith CowingJune 12, 2025September 22, 2026

[Portland State University]. Onboard the International Space Station (ISS), the Extant Life Volumetric Imaging System, dubbed ELVIS, is not about resurrecting rock-n-roll legends but pioneering scientific discovery. Using innovative holographic […]