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MIGHTY MICROSCOPE: Optical microscopes have been around for more than four centuries, but the N-SIM Super Resolution Microscope marks an evolutionary leap in their development. The instrument, developed by Nikon, incorporates a technique fi rst developed more than a decade ago. It uses light from differ- ent angles and a computer algorithm that produces images with double the resolution available from standard microscopes. If you are an amateur biologist, however, you might think twice about buying one. Cost of the complete system is $600,000. DNA SEQUENCING SYSTEM: RainDance Technologies' next- generation ThunderStorm System pushes DNA sequencing to the next level. DNA informs cells what proteins to produce, and these proteins dictate their function. DNA sequencing has opened up enormous possibilities for targeted therapies to treat illnesses. The system is fully automated and has enormous processing capabilities, making it ideal for large-scale scientifi c studies. MRI MINIATURIZED: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines have always been big and hugely expensive — until now. Aspect Imaging has developed a portable, mini MRI that can fi t on a tabletop. The $500,000 price tag for the M2 Compact MRI System doesn't make it cheap, but the cost is a fraction of that for a full-size MRI system. The device is ideal for research centers working with lab animals. The machine doesn't require shielding, so researchers don't have to worry about it erasing information on their credit cards. SHEDDING LIGHT ON CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS: You can wear it as a pendant, attach it to your shirt or wear it like a tiny timepiece — although it won't carry quite the cachet of a Cartier. Function, not form, is what's important with the Dimesimeter. The instrument, about the size of a U.S. dime, is designed to measure the wearer's activity and exposure to light. The information collected is transferred wirelessly to a computer so the numbers can be analyzed. Developed by the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the device is giving researchers insight into the physiological impacts of light and how it affects circadian rhythm. This could prove to be very important in treating diseases. SINGLE-STEP SAMPLE PREP:Preparing research samples for mass spectrometry can take several days, but with Protea Biosciences' LAESI (Laser Ablation Electrospray Ionization) system, the time frame can be cut to a matter of hours. Basically, a laser creates a mini explosion that vaporizes any samples containing water. The machine then converts the gaseous particles into a form that can be analyzed by a mass spectrometer. The effi ciency of the device should free up a lot of time and substantially improve researchers' effi ciency. SUPER-RESOLUTION MICROSCOPY: Overlapping light waves limit standard fl uorescent microscopes, preventing them from resolving objects less than 200 nanometers (billionths of a meter) apart. Leica's SR GSD Microscopy System solves this problem by illuminating and photographing just a few molecules at a time, but doing so thousands of times until a complete image is assembled. The Hubble Space Telescope has enabled us to peer farther and farther into space. Advances in microscopy are enabling us to look deeper and deeper into the microcosm. The Scientist's list of Top 10 Innovations isn't science fi ction — it's science fact. Technology is expanding exponentially, and it's enabling us to expand our knowledge of the life sciences at the same pace. This bodes well for a better future. Vito Di Bari is an acclaimed futurist, author and authority on innovation. He was chosen to be the Innovation Designer for the upcoming 2015 Universal EXPO to be held in Milan. He is recognized worldwide for his numerous innovative theories and multitude of published works. s MDNEWS.COM s MD NEWS Mid Hudson | 15