Researchers at Kyoto University’s Institute for Chemical Research, working with collaborators in Germany and Australia, demonstrated atomic-level elemental mapping using electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) in the challenging low-energy regime (around 100 eV). By selectively detecting electrons scattered in specific directions, they achieved roughly five times higher spatial resolution for identifying silicon atoms, overcoming previous limitations caused by delocalized in

At the Okazaki, Japan based Institute for Molecular Science, a team led by Hiroshi Daimon has developed an “atom-holography microscope” that combines a standard scanning electron microscope (SEM) beam with a new two-dimensional display-type analyzer (CoDELMA). The system records electron holograms and reconstructs them to reveal three-dimensional atomic arrangements in nanoscale regions without needing a transmission electron microscope or synchrotron radiation. Results were

Tescan, working in conjunction with the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, Czech Republic, has installed a retractable 4D STEM detector onto an Amber 2 FIB-SEM. This means that analyses such as diffraction, phase, and orientation can be performed on thin films and other materials research in the FIB-SEM without the need to transfer the sample to a TEM. https://tescan.com/news/4d-stem-in-sem-materials-research-interview

In order to address the issue of extremely low contrast in cryo-EM samples, researchers at UC Berkeley have adapted "phase-contrast" imaging for the TEM. By adding a laser phase-plate into the TEM imaging system, contrast is increased to useable levels in otherwise low-contrast samples, like cell proteins. Development of this system has been performed on a modified Thermo Fisher Scientific Krios Cryo TEM. https://news.berkeley.edu/2026/06/11/a-breakthrough-in-electron-microsc

Evident (formerly Olympus) has announced the winners of their 6th annual Image of the Year contest. Take a look at the winning micrographs here: https://evidentscientific.com/en/landing/ioty-six-annual

Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley Labs in Berkeley, California have developed a 4D STEM technique to identify the structure of nanocrystals that were previously seen as unsolvable. Previously, many nanocrystals were too small or too disordered to classify or index through conventional crystallographic methods. However, with this new 4D STEM method, single nanocrystals only a few nanometers wide can be sampled. https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2026/03/03/new-electron-microscopy-

Researchers at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York have recently published a paper on using ptychography to identify atomic scale defects in integrated circuit structures. This new method of failure analysis was developed in conjunction with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and Advanced Semiconductor Materials (ASM). Article: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260305182657.htm Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-69733-1

The Maxim Prigozin Lab at Harvard University has recently presented their new imaging technique that combines SEM with CL imaging. Instead of imaging samples with tagged proteins in the SEM and CL systems separately and attempting to overlay the two datasets, they have instead tagged the proteins with probes that will fluoresce under an electron beam. This allows the researcher to simultaneously image the SE/BSE image with the CL image, giving very good spatial resolution, an

Researchers at the University of Victoria have developed a new ptychography-based imaging technique that achieves sub-angstrom resolution (0.67 Å) using a compact, low-energy scanning electron microscope. This is something that was only considered possible with very large, high-end transmission electron microscopes. This technique has the potential to make atomic scale imaging affordable enough for most people in the electron microscope field. https://news.uvic.ca/media-relea

The University of Vienna in Austria recently announced a groundbreaking observation in materials science. Researchers from the University of Vienna in Austria directly observed the hexatic phase (an exotic intermediate state between solid and liquid) in an atomically thin two-dimensional crystal for the first time. Results were published in a paper in Science titled: " Hexatic phase in covalent two-dimensional silver iodide ". The experiment was conducted using a Nion electr

CoolLED is holding an image contest for light microscope images, with an emphasis on fluorescence images. Post-processed, or false color...

Digital Surf is accepting entries to their Spring 3D View contest from April 15 thru May 31. Anyone with an image of a surface they have...

Submissions for this years scientific images contest are now open and must be received by April 30, 2024. This year the competition has...

Cool LED has announced it will discontinue the pE-2 LED Illumination System which first debuted in 2007. The last units have already been...

The Nikon Small World Competition has announced its winners of 2023. Visit their website to see all the winners. The 2024 competition...

Olympus has annouced the Evident Image of the Year Award for 2022. Laurent Formery (USA) submitted the winning image, described as:...