AFM turns 40 this year! Our new review in J Microscopy looks ahead: HS-AFM pushing towards 100 fps, line scanning & height spectroscopy at ms–µs resolution, ~4 Å localisation AFM, and new software and ML/AI workflows for analysis and autonomous experiments 🔬🧪 doi.org/10.1111/jmi....

Pushing the limits of atomic force microscopy: Emerging methods for speed, resolution, and quantitative analysis

Since its introduction 40 years ago, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has transformed nanoscale imaging across the physical and life sciences. In biology, AFM has provided unprecedented insights into na....

doi.org

Thanks again to everyone who attended AFM & SPM Meeting 2026 in Leeds this week 🙂 🔬 We hope you had a great time and enjoyed all the science, discussions and collaborations over three fantastic days. Special thanks also to our generous sponsors for making this possible 👏

Want to batch-process AFM images without trial-and-error tuning? The afMLevel Python package automates AFM levelling with deep learning 🔬🧪 github.com/mayatek1/afM... CNN based workflows remove tilt & artefacts while preserving structure. #AFM #Python #MachineLearning #OpenScience #ResearchSoftware

GitHub - mayatek1/afMLevel: Machine Learning AFM levelling functions

Machine Learning AFM levelling functions. Contribute to mayatek1/afMLevel development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

playNano v0.4.0 is now out! 🧪 Updates to visualisation and export makes easier to create publication quality images and videos. 🎨 NEW colormaps 📹 NEW export formats 🔬 NEW ARIS file reader INSTALL: pip install playnano github.com/derollins/pl... #AFM #HighSpeedAFM #OpenSource #Python #Biophysics

Nature research paper: Structural basis of supercoiling-induced CRISPR–Cas9 off-target activity go.nature.com/4t39bk8

Structural basis of supercoiling-induced CRISPR–Cas9 off-target activity - Nature

Cas9 structures explain topology sensing and off-target activation.

go.nature.com

Some of my PhD work is now out in Nature! www.nature.com/articles/s41... Investigating the structural basis of off‑target Cas9 binding to supercoiled DNA with #AFM & cryo-EM. From my time in the lab of @alicepyne.bsky.social, in collaboration with @qmsmith.bsky.social and the team at the MRC LMS.

1/11 In our story out today in @nature.com , we showcase the molecular mechanisms that enable Cas9 to bind and cleave negatively supercoiled ((-)SC) off-targets! 🧬🧵 🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41... #CRISPR #Cas9 #DNATopology #AFM #CryoEM #SingleMolecule #Biophysics

Structural basis of supercoiling-induced CRISPR–Cas9 off-target activity - Nature

Cas9 structures explain topology sensing and off-target activation.

nature.com

Supercoiling not only brings DNA to life (and makes it dance) but also changes how key proteins such as #CRISPR interact with it. Thanks @qmsmith.bsky.social for the brilliant collaboration, Sylvia for developing an amazing new #imageanalysis pipeline & @eddierollins.bsky.social for beautiful #AFM.

Quentin Smith@qmsmith.bsky.social · 7mo ago

1/11 In our story out today in @nature.com , we showcase the molecular mechanisms that enable Cas9 to bind and cleave negatively supercoiled ((-)SC) off-targets! 🧬🧵 🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41... #CRISPR #Cas9 #DNATopology #AFM #CryoEM #SingleMolecule #Biophysics

We're back in York today for day 2 of @prosperpostdoc.bsky.social and the group are looking at jobs! They've been tasked with finding job vacancies, researching the key information and skills needed for these roles outside of academia. #postdocs

Squeeze more out of your AFM images with NanoLocz v1.3 💪 Download the updated version here: github.com/George-R-Hea...

Disappeared from here for a couple of months (social media doesn't come to me naturally) and it seems the wave has dissipated... is anyone who isn't a social media manager still here?

Had the pleasure of chairing our Molecular and Nanoscale Physics group internal seminar at @physicsleedsuni.bsky.social today. Always good to celebrate success within the group and hear about the breadth of research going on. Today's talks covered topics from flow cytometry to polymer chemistry!

Join us TODAY, 2-3 pm BST for our next ECR-led PoL seminar on Zoom. You can still get the Zoom link by registering here: forms.gle/RLmWdvUT8zsz... See you there!

Enjoyed a day out of the office last week with this dynamic group of Yorkshire Postdocs. It was good to take some time to reflect on our values and strengths together. Excited for the next @prosperpostdoc.bsky.social day in York next month! #PostdocLife #AcademicNetworking

White Rose University Consortium@whiteroseuc.bsky.social · last yr.

It was fantastic to meet our second cohort of the @prosperpostdoc.bsky.social programme last week at the beautiful Cloth Hall in Leeds. You can find out more about the cohort on our website: whiterose.ac.uk/what-we-do/w...

My first post! Hi science community 👋🧬 We have been trying to figure out the mechanistic mysteries about SMC motor proteins. They extrude our genome constantly into loops. We know that that's important. But how it works, is a matter of intense debate! Today, we report a piece of the puzzle:

Please share: Still plenty of time to apply for PhD projects in my lab using single-molecule methods to look at disordered regions and condensin complexes! Contact me at e.cutts@sheffield.ac.uk For details on how to apply: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

Developing Imaging Solutions to Study the Dynamics of Human Condensin I at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com

PhD Project - Developing Imaging Solutions to Study the Dynamics of Human Condensin I at University of Sheffield, listed on FindAPhD.com

findaphd.com

Going to keep this series bookmarked... #AFM #TIRF #SPIM #CLEM 🧪🔬⚛️ academic.oup.com/mt/article/3...

The Alphabet Soup of Microscopy: An Introduction to Advanced Imaging Techniques. Part III: A Combo Platter of CLEM, AFM, TIRF, SPIM, and TPEF-SHG

Abstract. The practice of combining imaging modalities emerged from the quest to discover novel insights into the structure and function of various samples

academic.oup.com

Back in the office after a long weekend in beautiful Bilbao. Had a great time exploring the city, eating Pintxos in the bars and visiting some amazing museums.

We have a #PhD available! I'm really excited about this project, looking at whether and how differences in the #IDRs of paralogous epigenetic enzymes CBP and p300 cause them to behave differently. www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

Unveiling the Secrets of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins in Gene Regulation at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com

PhD Project - Unveiling the Secrets of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins in Gene Regulation at University of Sheffield, listed on FindAPhD.com

findaphd.com

Excited to share our new paper in @PNASNews on mixed, reconstituted neurofilaments (NFs)! This work was led by ChemE PhD student Erika Ding and done in collab w Prof. Rui Wang and ChemE PhD student Takashi Yokokura here at Berkeley pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

First paper of our lab today @natureportfolio.bsky.social by Nussi! We provide a real-time movie on how #transcription and #translation cooperate using #single-molecule FM: we find long-range #ribosome/ RNAP communication mediated by #RNA looping! @embl.org #RNAbiology #RNASky t.co/a24Xxcxdo0

This looks like a cool project with some cool people in a very cool city 🧪 🔬 #Bristol #AFM

Jessica Cross@jessicacross.bsky.social · 2y ago

Please share this PhD opportunity in my new lab in Bristol, using protein design/ engineering to understand and build molecular motors to control intracellular transport. Working with @markdodding.bsky.social and Prof Dek Woolfson. www.findaphd.com/phds/project... www.swbio.ac.uk/biomolecular...

Interesting to see scientists perceived as a unifying force in society. 🧪 Not sure exactly what to think about this. It seems that several of the hot button issues at the moment have a scientific aspect so we (scientists) need to be aware how our voices are heard.

Sophia Smith Galer@sophiasgaler.bsky.social · 2y ago

I genuinely think a lot of journalists have their head in the sand about how they're seen. We are very busy vilifying social media when lots of people think we are even worse! New data from RISJ found the public think journalists + news media cause more societal division than social media.

Super cool DNA nanotech- DNA builidng blocks that can be configured in 3D. 🧪 My inner 6 year old loves the dinosaur!

Yu Heng Lau@yuhenglau.bsky.social · 2y ago

Shouting out some super cool work by my good friend and Chemistry colleague Shelley Wickham and her amazing team @sydneyuni.bsky.social #chemsky DNA origami voxels configured into anything 🦕🇦🇺 you name it, even 3D or dynamic, they'll build it Out in Science Robotics www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Dropping this on 🧪 Atomic force microscopy, DNA, and parasites! Examining the complex molecular structure of DNA chain mail #KDNA

Eddie Rollins@eddierollins.bsky.social · 2y ago

In this paper #AFM is used to image the chain-mail structure of kinetoplast #DNA from parasites and automated analysis unravels the complex molecular topology. 🧪 🔬 🧬 @alicepyne.bsky.social doi.org/10.1039/D4CP...

In this paper #AFM is used to image the chain-mail structure of kinetoplast #DNA from parasites and automated analysis unravels the complex molecular topology. 🧪 🔬 🧬 @alicepyne.bsky.social doi.org/10.1039/D4CP...

Multiscale topological analysis of kinetoplast DNA via high-resolution AFM

Kinetoplast DNA is a complex nanoscale network, naturally assembled from thousands of interconnected DNA circles within the mitochondrion of certain parasites. Despite the relevance of this molecule t...

doi.org

AFM starter pack. Sorry if I missed anyone, relatively small numbers at the moment. Please share, nominate others/yourself (any career stage). I will also try to add incoming new users regularly. go.bsky.app/MSz2t33

PhD i-case studentship with our lab, use state of the art molecular tweezers to examine how adducts are excised from DNA an exciting new collaboration with Matt Newton and LUMICKS www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

MRC DiMeN Doctoral Training Partnership: Understanding how damaged DNA is excised and repaired to maintain genome integrity and prevent cancer. at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com

PhD Project - MRC DiMeN Doctoral Training Partnership: Understanding how damaged DNA is excised and repaired to maintain genome integrity and prevent cancer. at University of Sheffield, listed on Find...

findaphd.com

Essential reference for anyone presenting image data or derived analysis 🔬📹🔭🧪 A checklist for best practice when publishing light microscopy images but applicable to many other imaging fields including #AFM

Marc Somssich@somssich.bsky.social · 3y ago

"Community-developed checklists for publishing images and image analyses" Very important resource for #Microscopy coming from Christopher Schmied, Christian Tischer & Helena Klara Jambor et al. 👍 I assume this was edited by @ritastrack.bsky.social? www.nature.com/articles/s41...

I remember when I was first told about DNA origami as an undergrad, it was introduced as a bit of a novelty that let you make smiley faces. I've since come to see how powerful it can be as a nanotechnology and a platform for nano/bio experiments.

Erik Poppleton@poppleton.phd · 2y ago

I'm posting a series on classic papers in DNA nanotechnology and DNA computing on the @molpigs.bsky.social account. Ever wondered how DNA origami went from a silly face on the cover of nature to go-to nanoscale construction material? The story actually begins in 1982 with a little theory paper... 🧪