Can we understand biology at the atomic level by looking at a cell’s molecular machinery under the electron microscope? Unfortunately, most human macromolecules are just too small to be studied in noisy, low-contrast images. Now, we’ve imported a 1930s breakthrough in light microscopy to electron microscopy: phase contrast. We’re using the world’s most intense continuous-wave laser to quantum-manipulate the wave function of the electron beam to convert small phase shifts into visible image contrast. Macromolecules much smaller than ever are now coming into focus.

Our Wonderfest speaker is Dr. Holger Müller, Professor of Physics at UC Berkeley. He leads the Müller Group’s work in using light to trap molecules and to record subtle biological signals.