STED (Stimulated Emission Depletion) Microscopy

STED (Stimulated Emission Depletion) Microscopy is an advanced imaging technique that allows scientists to see structures at a molecular level with very high resolution. It works by using two laser beams: one to excite fluorescent molecules in a sample, making them glow, and another shaped like a doughnut to turn off (deplete) fluorescence around the edges. This reduces the area where molecules emit light, effectively sharpening the image and revealing details much smaller than the limits of traditional microscopes. As a result, STED enables detailed visualization of tiny biological structures inside cells.