A new microscope developed by SFU researchers Mike Kirkness and Nancy Forde spins thousands of times faster than a fairground swing ride, and subjects its contents to forces hundreds of times higher than in a NASCAR race or rocket liftoff.
The invention holds promise for industries that conduct research and development (R&D) on consumer products like pharmaceuticals and adhesives. These products often require the understanding of the molecular basis for what holds things together.
SFU’s new wireless and highly portable spinning microscope, called the mini-radio centrifuge force microscope costs only $500 to produce. This is a fraction of the $150,000 cost of competing commercial technologies.
