lifetime imaging

Lifetime imaging is a technique used in microscopy to measure how long a fluorescent molecule stays glowing after being excited by light. By capturing these decay times across an image, it provides detailed information about the environment around the molecules, such as pH, temperature, or the presence of specific ions. This method helps researchers visualize and understand cellular processes with high specificity and contrast, often revealing details that conventional imaging might miss. Essentially, lifetime imaging adds a temporal dimension to traditional images, enabling more precise analysis of biological structures and activities.