Nanoscopy—imaging life at the nanoscale: a Nobel Prize achievement with a bright future. (22nd September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Blom, Hans; Bates, Mark
• Is Part Of: Physica scripta. Volume 90:Number 10(2015:Oct.)
• Publication Date: 2015-09-22
• Subjects: 2014 nobel prize -- chemistry -- super-resolution microscopy -- single fluorescent molecules -- STED -- PALM; Physics -- Periodicals; 530.05
• DOI: 10.1088/0031-8949/90/10/108010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-8949

Abstract

Abstract: A grand scientific prize was awarded last year to three pioneering scientists, for their discovery and development of molecular 'ON–OFF' switching which, when combined with optical imaging, can be used to see the previously invisible with light microscopy. The Royal Swedish Academy of Science announced on October 8th their decision and explained that this achievement—rooted in physics and applied in biology and medicine—was awarded with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for controlling fluorescent molecules to create images of specimens smaller than anything previously observed with light. The story of how this noble switch in optical microscopy was achieved and how it was engineered to visualize life at the nanoscale is highlighted in this invited comment.