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Caltech Shows Off a Lensless, Miniaturized Microscope

DeviceGuru writes "Caltech claims its researchers have 'turned science fiction into reality' with their development of a single-chip microscope. Although it doesn't have any lenses, the device is said to provide magnification comparable to that of sophisticated optical microscopes. The microscope's magnifying capabilities derive from a technology known as microfluidics, which is based on the channeling of fluid flow at incredibly small scales. Applications for the so-called 'optofluidic microscope' are expected to include field analysis of blood samples for malaria, or checking water supplies for giardia and other pathogens. The project's director thinks devices based on it could be implanted directly into the human body, in order to help arrest the spread of cancer." There's also coverage of the microscope at EE Times.

12 of 110 comments (clear)

  1. In other news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Ornithopters now the prefered way to travel, as sandworms tend to lead to sunburns, rashes and sand blown hair.

    The voice is still being perfected.

  2. Washington Quarter Noses by avandesande · · Score: 3, Funny

    How many Washington quarter noses will fit in a Library of Congress?

    Could they have just used millimeters?

    --
    love is just extroverted narcissism
    1. Re:Washington Quarter Noses by Born2bwire · · Score: 2, Funny

      You know what's also an instantly relatable unit?
      Centimeters!

      Oh, and by the way:
      I live in Germany you insensitive clod!

      Fine, we could also publish the size in units of Weisswurst.

  3. Stopping cancer... by courteaudotbiz · · Score: 2, Funny

    I didn't know you'd only need a microscope to stop cancer...

    1. Re:Stopping cancer... by wattrlz · · Score: 2, Funny

      Well, it's quantum cancer: Observing it forces it out of its metastable state and destroys it.

  4. Re:Practical Applications by GameboyRMH · · Score: 5, Funny

    They're trying to turn your own body into a police state, you just let them go after the "rogue" cancer cells, but then it will be the normal cancer cells, and then they'll start profiling against any minority cell, and soon enough every cell will be living in fear of their screening chip overlords.

    --
    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  5. Would it be... by ClosedEyesSeeing · · Score: 3, Funny

    a micro-microscope?

    1. Re:Would it be... by fretburnr · · Score: 3, Funny

      Wouldn't that be a picoscope?

  6. Re:Practical Applications by peragrin · · Score: 4, Funny

    hmm but if they also go after excess fat cells I just might make a deal.

    --
    i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
  7. Re:Incorrect size comparison by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    No, it's one of the newer US quarters. About 7/8" (22.2mm) in diameter.

    =Smidge=

    If it one of the new quarters then why does it have "One Dime" written on it? I can foresee great problems with the new coins if this is the case :)

  8. Re:Argh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's "Caltech", not "Cal Tech".

    Yes, exactly. I'm an alumnus. Often when I say, "it's Caltech, not Cal Tech," people look at me funny. By way of explanation, I carry on, "it's a private institution, not part of the UC system." If they continue to have crossed eyes, then, "look, Berkley is Cal Berkley because it's really the University of California at Berkley, Davis is Cal Davis because it's the University of California at Davis, and the same is true for for UCLA, UCSF, UC Irvine, UCSB, etc., but Caltech is the California Institute of Technology, not part of the UC system." By this time, they've either walked away, or have written me off as a total loon, but the point has been made: Caltech, not Cal Tech.

    Slashdot editors, please take note.

    It's Berkeley, not Berkley.

  9. Re:Practical Applications by Samah · · Score: 2, Funny

    So does this mean that if I jam my finger on a piece of wood I can send one of these microscope things in looking for splinter cells?

    --
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