Scientists can now see molecules and objects clearer than ever before
Discovery paves the way for new breakthroughs in materials, molecular science, semiconductors and much more A team of scientists from Complutense University have managed to bypass a theoretical limit on optical resolution, allowing them to see more sharply than ever before.
Key takeaways
- A team of scientists from Complutense University have managed to bypass a theoretical limit on optical resolution, allowing them to see more sharply than ever before.
- In physics, this fundamental limit is called the Rayleigh limit, and it prevents telescopes and microscopes from seeing past a certain point.
- Beyond the Rayleigh limit, two points that are close enough together are indistinguishable and appear as a single point.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2016) 'Scientists can now see molecules and objects clearer than ever before', 311 Institute, 19 October. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/scientists-can-now-see-molecules-and-objects-clearer-than-ever-before/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Discovery paves the way for new breakthroughs in materials, molecular science, semiconductors and much more
A team of scientists from Complutense University have managed to bypass a theoretical limit on optical resolution, allowing them to see more sharply than ever before. Their results are published in a paper in the journal Optica.
Every optical system - whether it is a telescope, a microscope, a camera, or something else, has a fundamental limit on its resolution and at a certain point, if two objects are small enough and close enough together, it becomes impossible to tell them apart.
In physics, this fundamental limit is called the Rayleigh limit, and it prevents telescopes and microscopes from seeing past a certain point. This is due to quantum effects that blur the image. Beyond the Rayleigh limit, two points that are close enough together are indistinguishable and appear as a single point. But an international team of physicists managed to overcome the Rayleigh limit, and developed a technique to distinguish two objects at up to 17 times the resolution possible before.
Traditional optics only measures the intensity, or brightness, of light in order to create an image but this new technique collects additional information from the observed light, allowing for sharper and more refined images. And while this might not seem like a big deal, at a time when we are observing atoms interacting for the first time, creating transitors that are only one nanometer wide, and trying to peer further into space and into the inner workings of molecules this new breakthrough could herald new breakthroughs in astronomy, material science, molecular research and even semiconductors.
The devil's always in the detail.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Discovery paves the way for new breakthroughs in materials, molecular science, semiconductors and much more A team of scientists from Complutense University have managed to bypass a theoretical limit on optical resolution, allowing them to see more sharply than ever before.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
Read full bio
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
What future do you need to see?
Choose one to get started on industry and manufacturing and the future of your organisation.
Sources and further reading
- bypass a theoretical limit upi.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 19 October 2016. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2016). Scientists can now see molecules and objects clearer than ever before. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/scientists-can-now-see-molecules-and-objects-clearer-than-ever-before/
You are welcome to quote this article with credit and a link to the original.