A Better View of the Molecule
New method of microscopy using fluorescence photoactivation could help address biological questions
UMaine Today
July/August 2007
Science has limits. Defined by theories, laws and formulaic equations, these limits define the boundaries within which scientific discoveries are made.
In most cases, having boundaries that are clearly defined by justifiable rules is a good thing. In science, however, the existing limits often interfere with the overall quest: the search for a cure, the advancement of technology, the depth of our understanding of ourselves and our universe. For scientists, the goal is often to break through those limits to reveal the discoveries on the other side.
For University of Maine Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Sam Hess, a breakthrough idea that would redefine the limits of scientific microscopy arrived late at night, accompanied by a heavy backbeat and a lot of yelling. To read more about microscopy, click here.