Longevity science

What causes a cell to metastasize into a cancerous tumor?

To find out, Corey Neu, an assistant professor in Purdue University‘s Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, and colleagues have combined an atomic force microscope (AFM) and a nuclear magnetic resonance system.

An AFM uses a tiny vibrating probe called a cantilever with a tip that travels over the surface of a cell to yield information about materials and surfaces at the scale of nanometers, or billionths of a meter.

Scientists have developed a new technology that allows them to view live viruses in their natural habitat, as opposed to isolated frozen specimens.