ook out microorganisms! Biologists at the University of North Florida can now see your every nook and cranny. "It does optical stacks like an MRI. You can take a section through here. There, there. Reconstruct it and look at everything," Assistant Biology professor Cliff Ross said.
"It" is a new 3-D microscope, made possible by a charitable donation from Vistakon. Students say the vivid, vibrant 3-D elements make their lives easier.
"It definitely cuts down on a lot of time. The old microscopes required a lot of extra work, a lot more preparation," grad student Kevin Olsen said.
Olsen specifically studies baby coral reefs. The new technology allows him to see the sea structures like never before and join a rare group of researchers around the country.
"It's a very unique opportunity for students to get some training on this and learn how to use it," Ross said.
Better equipment means better research. And better research means coral reefs and other specimens around the Sunshine State have help for years to come.
"It's really important to get a baseline and look at what's really affecting their reproduction because that's going to affect future generations of coral reefs," Olsen said.
The hope is that this new tool will not only attract students and faculty in the future...but also help UNF be at the forefront of cutting-edge research.
