A big world beyond the limits of the ordinary light microscope now lies open to exploration.

[M]acromolecular assemblies. . ., which include viruses, are too large to study by conventional X-ray diffraction methods, but too small to be seen under a light microscope.

Unlike the most powerful electron microscopes—which can see down to the scale of individual molecules—or fluorescent-based microscopes—which rely on the use of coloured dyes—the new light microscope does not need to interfere in any way with the living material it is used to study.

Light microscope

Meaning

Noun

Synonyms