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Related Concept Videos

Overview of Electron Microscopy01:25

Overview of Electron Microscopy

The wavelengths of visible light ultimately limit the maximum theoretical resolution of images created by light microscopes. Most light microscopes can only magnify 1000X, and a few can magnify up to 1500X. Electrons, like electromagnetic radiation, can behave like waves, but with wavelengths of 0.005 nm, they produce significantly greater resolution up to 0.05 nm as compared to 500 nm for visible light. An electron microscope (EM) can create a sharp image that is magnified up to 2,000,000X.
Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology01:28

Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Three-dimensional imaging techniques are essential in cell biology, allowing researchers to visualize intricate cellular structures with high resolution. Two prominent methods, Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy (DIC) and Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM), provide distinct advantages for imaging live and thick specimens, respectively.Differential Interference Contrast MicroscopyDIC microscopy enhances contrast in transparent, unstained samples by converting phase...
Transmission Electron Microscopy01:15

Transmission Electron Microscopy

In 1931, physicist Ernst Ruska—building on the idea that magnetic fields can direct an electron beam just as lenses can direct a beam of light in an optical microscope—developed the first prototype of the electron microscope. This development led to the development of the field of electron microscopy. In the transmission electron microscope (TEM), electrons are produced by a hot tungsten element and accelerated by a potential difference in an electron gun, which gives them up to 400 keV in...
Electron Microscope Tomography and Single-particle Reconstruction01:07

Electron Microscope Tomography and Single-particle Reconstruction

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) can be used to determine the 3D structure of biological samples with the help of techniques such as electron microscope tomography and single-particle reconstruction. While single-particle reconstruction can examine macromolecules and macromolecular complexes in vitro conditions only, tomography permits the study of cell components or small cells in vivo.
Electron Tomography
Electron tomography can be performed either in TEM or STEM (scanning transmission...
Two-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology01:29

Two-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Two-dimensional (2D) microscopy encompasses a range of optical techniques that capture images within a single focal plane, offering detailed representations of microscopic structures. These techniques are essential in biological and medical research, enabling the visualization of cellular and subcellular structures with different levels of contrast and specificity.There are several major types of 2D microscopy, each with strengths and applications.Bright-Field MicroscopyBright-field microscopy...
Scanning Electron Microscopy01:07

Scanning Electron Microscopy

A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is used to study the surface features of a sample by using an electron beam that scans the sample surface in a two-dimensional manner. Typically, areas between ~1 centimeter to 5 micrometers in width can be imaged. SEM can be used to image bacteria, viruses, tissues as well as larger samples like insects. Conventional SEM gives a magnification ranging from 20X to 30,000X and spatial resolution of 50 to 100 nanometers.
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Obtaining 3D Chemical Maps by Energy Filtered Transmission Electron Microscopy Tomography
08:15

Obtaining 3D Chemical Maps by Energy Filtered Transmission Electron Microscopy Tomography

Published on: June 9, 2018

Four-dimensional electron microscopy.

Ahmed H Zewail1

  • 1Physical Biology Center for Ultrafast Science & Technology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA. zewail@caltech.edu

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 10, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Ultrafast electron microscopy (4D UEM) introduces time as a fourth dimension, enabling atomic-scale 3D imaging. This advanced technique visualizes dynamic processes in materials and biology with unprecedented resolution.

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Last Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Obtaining 3D Chemical Maps by Energy Filtered Transmission Electron Microscopy Tomography
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Published on: June 9, 2018

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Area of Science:

  • Physics
  • Materials Science
  • Biology
  • Microscopy

Background:

  • The electron microscope is a powerful imaging tool, resolving 3D structures at the atomic scale.
  • Its applications span materials science and biology.
  • Conventional microscopes are limited by recording rates, hindering the study of dynamic processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in electron microscopy by incorporating the fourth dimension: time.
  • To highlight the capabilities of ultrafast electron microscopy (4D UEM).
  • To discuss emerging applications and future directions in 4D electron microscopy.

Main Methods:

  • Introduction of time as the fourth dimension in electron microscopy.
  • Single-electron stroboscopic imaging technique.
  • Development of 4D UEM variants: convergent-beam, near-field imaging, tomography, and scanning-pulse microscopy.

Main Results:

  • Ultrafast electron microscopy (4D UEM) achieves resolutions 10 orders of magnitude better than conventional methods.
  • Enables visualization of complex structures unfolding across length and time scales.
  • Demonstrates applications in imaging dynamic nanomaterials and biostructures.

Conclusions:

  • 4D UEM significantly enhances imaging capabilities by adding the time dimension.
  • The technique allows for the study of dynamic phenomena at atomic resolution.
  • Future research will explore further applications in nanomaterials, biostructures, and space-time imaging.