It’s Internal Medicine Day ! 🥼🩺💊💉🏥 (October 28) Analysis of magnesium stearate on tablet surface Surface of an uncoated pain relief tablet was examined using variable pressure tabletop microscope equipped with EDX system. Though it is difficult to identify magnesium stearate even in the compositional BSE image, the EDX map revealed the localization of magnesium stearate slightly added as lubricant. About the latest Tabletop Microscope, visit hitachi-hightech.com/global/…

Happy National American Beer Day ! 🍺🍻🍺 (October 27) Cryo SEM of Budding Yeast Budding yeasts were observed using an FE-SEM equipped with a cryo system. The yeasts were dropped directly onto a sample stub, rapidly frozen with slush nitrogen without prior fixation or dehydration, then cleaved and coated with 2 nm of Pt in the preparation chamber of the cryo system. Invagination structure unique to yeast cell membranes were observed in the exposed protoplasmic fracture (PF) face. In the enlarged view, particles with a diameter of approximately 15 nm were recognized and some were observed in hexagonal arrangement. About the latest Field Emission SEM, visit hitachi-hightech.com/global/…

The micro-sampling mechanism, equipped with a function to rotate the sample around the probe axis, allows the sample’s orientation to be changed by 90° by rotating the probe after the sample has been picked up. A cross section of 232 layered 3D NAND flash memory with a structure of over 14 micrometer depth was prepared using the micro-sampling. When the Ga ion beam was irradiated from the direction of the sample surface, the curtaining effect prevented the acquisition of a clear SEM image of the underlying wiring structure; however, by shifting the incident angle by 90°, the curtaining effect was mitigated, allowing the underlying wiring structure to be observed. About the FIB-SEM, visit hitachi-hightech.com/global/…

Surface of an LiNbO3-coated Li(Ni, Co, Mn)O2 Solid-State Battery cathode material particle and cross section of another particle were analyzed using a Field Emission SEM equipped with Bruker FlatQUADtop-mounted EDS detector. A sufficient X-ray signal was obtained in just 72 seconds for both the surface and the cross sectionanalyses. The coating layer on the LiNbO3 particles had uneven thickness, with some areas containing Nb on the periphery and others not. The coating layer was several tens of nanometers thick in its thickest locations, coating the cathode material particles. About the Field Emission SEM, visit hitachi-hightech.com/global/…

Happy National Color Day ! 🎨 🌈 🖼️ (October 22) CLEM (Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy) of Laser-printer printed Paper Laser-printer printed paper was observed using Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy technique. MirrorCLEM system overlays LM image on live SEM image to allow quick observation of the same FOV. Resultant CLEM image revealed the three particles on the fiber to be cyan, magenta and yellow toner particles respectively. About the CLEM system, visit hitachi-hightech.com/global/…

It’s International Print Day ! 🖨📚📜 (October 21) CL (Cathodoluminescence) imaging of coated papers using Tabletop Microscope Dispersion of optical brightener on coated paper for inkjet printing was investigated using tabletop microscope. While BSE image showed the shape and the composition of particles on the coated paper surface, CL(cathodoluminescence) image clearly visualized the dispersion of optical brightener. About latest Tabletop Microscope, visit hitachi-hightech.com/global/…

It’s National Chemistry Week ! ⚗️🧪⚛️🧬🥼🔬 (October 18-24, 2026) TEM-EELS analysis of Gas atmosphere using FE-TEM with Gas Injection Various gasses are now introduced for in-situ electron microscopy. EELS spectra of H2 gas, O2 gas and air were acquired near specimen and characteristic K-edge was clearly observed in each spectrum. Gas atmosphere can be precisely controlled for in-situ electron microscopy. About Gas Injection, visit hitachi-hightech.com/global/…

It’s International Infection Prevention Week ! 😷🚰🧴💉🧤 (October 19-25, 2026) Gauze mask and Polyurethane mask Masks are made to take advantage of materials' special properties and characteristics in order to block droplets and particles at the micrometer and nanometer level — whether that involves multiple layers of gauze with thick fibers, a non-woven material with an intricate mesh of extremely fine fibers, or polyurethane that catches particles using static electricity. For more details, visit hitachi-hightech.com/global/…

It’s World Food Day ! 🥖🥚🍅🍌🥛🥩🐟 (October 16, 2025) “Delicious foods are also structured beautifully. Exploring Food Structure to Establish the Science of Cooking” Culinary science has a variety of approaches to research. Cooking methods, ingredient analysis, food properties, psychometrics (sensory evaluation), food culture, and food histology all comprise important parts of this research. Flavor and texture, such as hardness or chewiness, are all closely related to a food’s structure, and food histology has evolved along with techniques for observing tissue structure in order to examine the properties of each type of food. For this interview, I sat down with Professor Machiko Mineki, who has been developing techniques for observing the microscopic structure of tissue, and has received many accolades. I asked Professor Mineki about progress in food histology research and what role electron microscopy plays in it. Read the full article here: hitachi-hightech.com/global/…

It’s National Aesthetician Day ! 👐🖌🧴 (October 15) Cryo SEM and Cryo TEM of Liposomes Check out empty and drug-loaded liposomes here: youtube.com/watch?v=Tgc-m1g1…

It’s International E-Waste Day ! ♻📱🔋🔦🔌💡 (October 14) IC Lead Frame inspection using large DOF (Depth of Focus) SEM Uncoated IC chips on a printed circuit board (PCB: 12 cm x 10 cm) were observed at low accelerating voltage (1.0-2.0 kV). IC chips were three-dimensionally observed at 70 degree stage tilt. The height difference between the top and the bottom of the image was approximately 5 cm at very low magnification (x5). Micro cracks were recognized on the surface of Ni/Pd-plated lead frame. About the large DOF (Depth of Focus) SEM, visit hitachi-hightech.com/global/…

Happy National M&M Day ! 🍫🍬 (October 13) Cryo ion milling & low voltage SEM of chocolate Chocolate under Electron Microscope ! Cross section of candy coated chocolate was prepared by cooled ion milling. Interface between chocolate and coating and the dispersion of sugar crystals and eggshell calcium were clearly observed without thermal damage. About Ion Milling, visit hitachi-hightech.com/global/…

Happy World Algae Day ! 🏞️ (October 12) Micro Monster, a single-celled microalga, Staurastrum sp. prepared using Ionic Liquid Although it may look like an industrial product, it is a single-celled microalga called Staurastrum sp. It is characterized by its projections and a constriction in the center of the cell. Staurastrum is found worldwide, but species with four projections on each end are rare. By using an ionic liquid, we were able to photograph it without distorting its distinctive projections. This work was presented at the "photo contest" hosted by the Japanese Society of Microscopy. For more details, visit hitachi-hightech.com/jp/ja/k…

It’s National Metric Day ! 📏📐🔬⚖🌡🧪 (October 10) Automated SEM imaging and measurement of resist line patterns 50 Resist line patterns were automatically searched, captured and measured using a combination of an SEM automation software, EM Flow Creator (EMFC), and an image processing software, Image Pro. After moving to the pattern position, EMFC image recognition function was used to fine-tune the position so that the line pattern is at the center of the image. SEM images were captured with the line pattern in the center. Image Pro’s macros were created to automates median filtering, binarization and line pattern width measurement. Automatic folder monitoring function enables the measurement as soon as images are acquired. The average value of the line width for the 50 patterns was 100.82 nm with three-sigma value of 3.68 nm. About EM Flow Creator, visit hitachi-hightech.com/global/…