Scientists are increasingly drawing on a powerful structural biology technique called cryogenic electron microscopy, or cryo-EM. A new feature, “Cryo-EM Explained: Visualizing Life’s Machinery,” by science communicators at the Morgridge Institute for Research and the Department of Biochemistry decodes the nuanced world of cryo-EM technology, methods and research.

Cryo-EM provides answers to fundamental biology questions that impact human health and beyond. The more we know about the shape and structure of molecules, the better we can understand how these molecules function in our bodies and in the world. The data yielded through cryo-EM imaging is critical to advancements in drug discovery, vaccine development, energy research and more.

Check out the new feature to learn more about cryo-EM, see illustrations and explanations, meet researchers using the technology and discover how the field is evolving.