Scientists Shoot a 281-Gigapixel Photo of a Tiny 1.5mm Embryo
Gigapixel images are usually used to capture tiny details in expansive scenes, but scientists in the Netherlands recently created one that shows microscopic details in a tiny subject. Using a technique called virtual nanoscopy (a new relative of microscopy?), the researchers created a massive 281-gigapixel image of a 1.5-millimeter-long zebrafish embryo.
The technique will be a huge help to people using electron microscopy to study cells. While electron microscopy has long provided amazingly detailed images, the fact that it can only capture a tiny portion of a cell makes it difficult for researchers to understand how the things they see related to the cell as a whole. Having a zoom-able gigapixel image will allow them to freely navigate across different areas and magnifications.
26,000 individual nanometer photos were stitched together to create the zebrafish image seen above. Here’s a look at its different zoom levels:
Want to explore the image Google Earth-style? You can find it displayed in a gigapixel browser here.
