New non-radioactive, neutral reagent reveals viruses in clear detail

New non-radioactive, neutral reagent reveals viruses in clear detail

Seeing is believing—or, for scientists, the beginning of understanding. Researchers can visualize atomically small details with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) by beaming electrons through the sample and capturing their interactions to form an image. But such tiny specimens can evade the electrons, so they need to be specially treated with heavy metals to ensure interactions. To see viruses, for example, the current standard is to douse th

New non-radioactive, neutral reagent reveals viruses in clear detail

Researchers have demonstrated the benefits of a new non-radioactive, neutral negative staining reagent by imaging viruses at nanometer-scale. The salt-presenting reagent is a structurally stable and neutral molecule with a longer shelf life and less procurement restrictions than the conventionally used reagent, uranyl acetate.

New non-radioactive, neutral reagent reveals viruses in clear detail

Seeing is believing — or, for scientists, the beginning of understanding.