zlacker

> cut the sample into around 5,000 slices — each just 34 nanometres thick — that could be imaged using electron microscopes.

Does anyone have any insight into how this is done without damaging the sample?

>>eminen+(OP)
Using a Microtome (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microtome).

>>eminen+(OP)
The sample is stained (to make thigns visible), then embedded in a resin, then cut with a very sharp diamond knife and the slices are captured by the tape reel.

Paper: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.05.29.446289v4 See Figure 1.

The ATUM is described in more detail here https://www.eden-instruments.com/en/ex-situ-equipments/rmc-e...

and there's a bunch of nice photos and explanations here https://www.wormatlas.org/EMmethods/ATUM.htm

TL;DR this project is reaping all the benefits of the 21st century.

>>talsit+y
NB: tome in Microtome has the same root as the T in CAT scan: computer aided tomography. Which is to say, slimly-sliced cabbage^W X-ray scans.

It's also the tome as in book, more properly one volume of a multi-volume (or multi-part) set, though it now generally simply means any large book.

<https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=tome>

>>dredmo+2Q6
Incredible, love learning language facts like this.

>>themoo+gb7
Etymology is disturbingly addictive.

>>dredmo+2Q6
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomography: `The word tomography is derived from Ancient Greek τόμος tomos, "slice, section" and γράφω graphō, "to write" or, in this context as well, "to describe."`