Category: physics

Protein sequencing remains a significant technological barrier in omics research

May 2, 2024

Since the advent of Sanger sequencing in the 1970s, DNA sequencing has revolutionized our understanding of the life sciences, and allowed us to glean new insights into the genetic underpinnings of many diseases and biological phenomena at the cellular level. But, there is relatively little traction in the area of protein sequencing. Currently, we still … More Protein sequencing remains a significant technological barrier in omics research

Large scientific collaborations are permeating biological research

February 9, 2024

Research is commonly thought to be performed in individual laboratories by small groups of researchers. However, the trend in physics research has been the forging of large collaborations that number in the thousands of researchers. More importantly, the trend is permeating the biological realm, where many large biological scientific collaborations tackling large complex challenges in … More Large scientific collaborations are permeating biological research

Different ultrasound frequencies are needed to image body structures at different depths

February 5, 2024

Ultrasound imaging is a mature medical imaging modality that has seen widespread use in hospitals particularly for fetus imaging and abdominal imaging. In this imaging modality, different ultrasound frequencies are available for use. Thus, how should we choose between the different ultrasound frequencies? The first point to note is that higher frequencies confer higher image … More Different ultrasound frequencies are needed to image body structures at different depths

Simplified theory of magnetic resonance imaging

January 31, 2024

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has walked into mainstream medicine and benefited patients from around the world. Amongst the different medical imaging modalities, MRI is perhaps the most difficult to understand. This short writeup attempts to provide the reader with a simplified understanding of MRI medical imaging. In MRI, magnetic field is applied to align the … More Simplified theory of magnetic resonance imaging

Distributed acoustic sensing in fiber optic cables could pinpoint regions with seismic activity

January 25, 2024

Seismic activities around the world are typically pinpointed through a network of seismometers strategically placed at fault zones around the world. But, the approach’s accuracy degrades in cases where seismic activity occurs in regions with hidden faults not previously catalogued. These faults need not be in far-flung regions of the world, and may in fact … More Distributed acoustic sensing in fiber optic cables could pinpoint regions with seismic activity

Advanced Photon Source offers unique capabilities in “in operando” imaging and spectroscopy

January 2, 2024

X-ray synchrotron has been the mainstay of high energy X-ray science as it provides unique high energy beamlines able to capture nanometre scale phenomenon in high temporal resolution. However, the time resolution limit of high energy X-ray science is continuously being upgraded with advancement in electron storage techniques through better magnets and focussing capabilities. The … More Advanced Photon Source offers unique capabilities in “in operando” imaging and spectroscopy

Care must be taken in interpreting single molecule localisation microscopy images

October 16, 2023

Since 2015, there has been a revolution in resolution in bioimaging and fluorescence microscopy research. Specifically, the resolution limit has reached the low tens of nanometres such as 20 to 30 nanometres. This is equivalent to operating in the realm of high performance microscopy experiments where every aspect of the imaging operation must be fine-tuned … More Care must be taken in interpreting single molecule localisation microscopy images

Computational analysis is the heart of single molecule localisation microscopy

October 9, 2023

In the early 2000s, several studies reported significant breakthroughs in our ability to image single molecules at the nanoscale. Known collectively as single molecule localisation microscopy (SMLM), these techniques share important features such as the use of photoactivable fluorophores as well as computational reconstruction of microscopy images to help generate the overall overlay image. Take, … More Computational analysis is the heart of single molecule localisation microscopy

Advanced Photon Source affords unique capabilities in “in operando” imaging and spectroscopy

March 7, 2023

X-ray synchrotron has been the mainstay of high energy X-ray science as it provides unique high energy beamlines able to capture nanometre scale phenomenon in high temporal resolution. However, the time resolution limit of high energy X-ray science is continuously being upgraded with advancement in electron storage techniques through better magnets and focussing capabilities. The … More Advanced Photon Source affords unique capabilities in “in operando” imaging and spectroscopy

Detector technology remains the forefront of research in fluorescence microscopy

February 20, 2023

Current trend in light microscopy applications typically require camera capture of images obtained by the microscope. This is due in large part to the many software and applications that could analyse the digital image pixel by pixel to extract deeper insights from the light microscopy images. Coupled with the trend towards higher resolution light microscopy, … More Detector technology remains the forefront of research in fluorescence microscopy