Fingertip Microscope

This year scientists at Stanford University have created a microscope that is only the size of your fingertip capable of seeing inside of living animals for the purpose of easier and more convenient research.

The device weighs less than 2 grams and is mounted to the small animals head. The device can then capture activities of up to 200 brain cells as then animal reacts to its environment, which makes for much easier research methods.

Here is a  picture of it:

Mark Schnitzer, neuroscientist, TR35 honoree of 2003, and one of the creators of the device, says that it is lighter than a two-photon microscope, which restricts the test animals movements. He also says that the device could quite possibly only cost a few dollars per part, which blows away the price of previous microscopes which can go for up to $50,000. These are also very easy to mass produce and in my opinion, will end up going public some time in the future.

The microscope works with a "metal-oxide-semiconductor sensor" which is commonly used in cell phones. It detects flourescent light, which is used by the scientists to view all the different cells.

In my opinion, this will help researchers discover more about the brain and uncover tons of unknown facts about it.

Here is the website with all the information on it: http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/38546/?p1=A1