Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) have made a groundbreaking advancement in Brillouin microscopy, achieving a speed increase of approximately 1,000 times for 3D imaging of light-sensitive samples.

This new technology allows researchers to capture an entire 10,000-pixel plane in a single acquisition, a significant leap from the previous capability of only capturing a 100-pixel line.

The enhancement builds on previous work from 2022, when EMBL researchers expanded the field of view from a line to a 2D plane, further facilitating faster 3D imaging.

Lead author Carlo Bevilacqua explained that this advancement has transitioned the imaging process from viewing single pixels to a full 2D field of view, greatly improving the efficiency of imaging living organisms in real-time.

Robert Prevedel, Group Leader at EMBL, likened this breakthrough in mechanical imaging to the impact of light-sheet microscopy, highlighting its potential to assist life scientists while minimizing light intensity exposure.

Brillouin microscopy utilizes Brillouin scattering, a phenomenon predicted by French physicist Léon Brillouin in 1922, which analyzes light's interaction with thermal vibrations to uncover material properties.

The technique of using Brillouin scattering for microscopy began in the early 2000s, but earlier methods were limited to one pixel at a time, making them time-consuming and less applicable for biological studies.

The study detailing this advancement was published on February 20, 2025, in Nature Photonics, showcasing the significant progress made in mechanical imaging technology.