You may not have heard of metallography, but if you’ve used a phone, been on a plane, or rode in a car, you have benefitted from its existence. Metallography is defined as “the study of the atomic and chemical structure of all types of metallic alloys using microscopy.” It traces its roots back to 19th-century British scientist Henry Clifton Sorby, but advances in technology have helped it maintain relevance and led to new discoveries about the properties of metals.   Continue reading →

It can be difficult to keep one eye closed while looking through a microscope eyepiece with the other eye. A stereo microscope eliminates the need to close one of your...

Authors: Mark Clymer1, Kieran Slicker2 and Ed Balcerzak1 1UNITRON Ltd., Commack, NY (http://www.unitronusa.com) 2Ash Technologies, Naas, Ireland (http://ash-vision.com) Originally published by Mid-Atlantic Tech Publications, Inc., May 2018: http://us-tech.com/RelId/1966467/ISvars/default/What_s_Next_for_Visual_and_Optical_Inspection_.htm The need...

Remember “the dress?”  Was it gold and white or black and blue?  The answer comes down to an issue of illumination and white balance.  Cameras are “stupid” – even on...

Is More Better? As microscopists and also general consumers, consumer (non-scientific) camera manufacturers have tricked us into thinking “more” megapixels translate into better images.  NOT TRUE, at least not in...

For decades, photographic film was the only option for snapping pictures with microscopes -- prior to that and to the best of their ability, scientists sketched what they saw through...

Would you wear dirty eyeglasses or sunglasses? Just like these, microscope optics work better when they are free of dust and smears. Grime on your optics reduce the resolution, create...

We are often asked to recommend the appropriate objectives for a microscope.  The objective sits closest to the specimen, is an integral component of the microscope and is crucial to...