Fluorescence Microscopy
Switch from mercury based lamps to LEDs or other solid state bulbs.
Murcury blubs are also dangerous as their high internal pressure can cause them to burst, while hot and cold!
Example:
CoolLED pE-300ultra Illumination System
- They showed that this LED bulb consumes 10x less energy compared to traditional mercury bulb, saving £30,000. Green-Light-Laboratories-Mercury-versus-LED.pdf (1.6 MB)
Data storage
Imaging can consume a lot of resources with regards to data storage. Read more tips from our Computer/Lab server section.
3D Printing parts
Guide to 3D printing in microscopy
- Has lots of tips including the best configurations to biocompatibility.
Chemicals
Substitute Uranyless (non-radioactive) for uranyl acetate in TEM staining
But watch out!
- non-radioactive substitutes. (e.g. lanthanides) , unfortunately do not have the equivalent electron density compared to uranyl acetate. This is based upon our lab testing at Schepens Eye Research Institute for several lanthanides over the years.
- At Weill Cornel Med, we’ve tested Uranyless and it is not good across-the-board, but works really well for embedded bacterial preps and some other applications.
- UA substitutes are not good for negative stain protocols in our experience at University of Manchester
Other
Old pipette boxes work great for storing SEM pin stubs!
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