Superfast digital microscope promises real-time images for researchers

Researchers have developed a new type of digital microscope that processes images of cell activity 100 times faster than existing technology.

Developed at the University of Leicester, the device can be attached to regular microscopes where it projects light on to a sample through a system of mirrors. The mirrors reflect only light in the plane of focus into the camera. The resulting image can be scanned at 100 frames per second. This is fast enough to show biological processes and could be of use in biomedical research and neuroscience. Regular microscopes tend to be capped at one frame per second.