Knowledge Base

Have you ever wondered how superresolution microscopy works? What’s the difference between STED, STORM, and MINFLUX? What is “resolution” and what is a “PSF”? What is so special about the STEDYCON? Read on to find out.

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Everything about light microscopes, dyes, and imaging

A short history of microscopy

A short history of microscopy

Before microscopes, the world of cells and microbes was a mystery, invisible to even the sharpest minds. But once scientists learned to bend light and magnify the unseen, biology was transformed forever. In this article, we’ll explore this journey from simple lenses to the cutting-edge technologies that reshaped science, medicine, and our understanding of the living world. Details >

What is the resolution of a STED microscope?

 Merge of two images showing 2-color-labeld nuclear pores. The resolution of the image increases from left to right.

STED can far exceed the resolution of a standard confocal microscope, which is limited to about 200 nm by diffraction. A moderate resolution increase is readily achievable with standard protocols. Going all the way requires some effort, but the payoff is remarkable. Are you ready to unlock the nanoworld? Details >

How does STED work?

 A donut-shaped STED beam confines the fluorescence to a sub-diffraction sized area

You have heard of STED but don’t have a clear idea how it overcomes the diffraction-limited resolution of confocal microscopes? You maybe even think it to be somewhat complicated? In fact, it isn’t. It’s just physics, smartly applied. Details >