Cambridge: official opening of most powerful microscope in the UK

The most powerful electron microscope in the UK, was officially unveiled by the Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts on a visit to Cambridge University.

The FEI Titan 3 Electron Microscope can be used to view and analyse structures at a resolution of 0.7 angstrom, which is less than one-half the size of a carbon atom and over a million times smaller than the width of a human hair.

One of the research projects which will be using the new microscope is an investigation into diseases characterised by the deposition of protein tangles or plaques, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. As they are only a few nanometres in diameter, they are exceptionally difficult to study and are too small to be seen using MRI scans or X-rays.

Another project will examine how to purify water using special ultraviolet lights which kill all bacteria and viruses.

Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts said: “Scientists working at the threshold of human discovery now have access to the UK’s most powerful microscope. By capturing the sharpest possible images of individual atoms, researchers can swell their knowledge of how materials work to deliver far-reaching benefits for society, such as understanding what causes debilitating diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.”