Scientists Create Stunning Microscopic Time-Lapses With Lasers and Glowing Proteins

Microscopes allow us to peer into the tiny worlds hidden from our naked eyes, but tracking slowly evolving movement with them can be a logistical nightmare. Scientists have developed a new technique for automatically tracking movement and locking focus, creating spectacular time-lapses in the process.

Researchers at the Austria Institute of Science and Technology created the technique for observing cell growth in plant roots. The problem is that the growth takes place very slowly, requiring the scientists to continually monitor and adjust the focus on the microscope. The new method fires lasers at the roots, causing their fluorescent proteins to glow, thereby allowing custom tracking software to track the movement and refocus the microscope. To complete the setup, scientists turned the microscope on its side to allow the roots to grow in an upright position and introduced artificial light to stimulate growth. Using this technique and software, the team can also create three-dimensional models of the tiny structures, allowing for more detailed analysis of the processes at play. Taking it further, the team also studied the migration patterns of cells in Zebrafish embryos. It's a very cool technique that should allow for deeper understanding of biological processes.

[via Gizmodo]