Scanning electron microscope delivers impactful advances in nuclear fuel research

The first magnifying lenses appeared in the 13th century, invented to aid those with poor eyesight. Technological improvements eventually led to microscopes and telescopes, opening our eyes to the tiny worlds right in front of us and the vastness of space over our heads.More refinements to the technology brought us high-powered electron microscopes and the Hubble Space Telescope, leading to breakthroughs in fields such as astronomy, biology, surgery and more.Science always moves forward. But sometimes it’s good to pause and recognize the progress that’s been made.That’s why James Madden had mixed emotions when he emailed colleagues to let them know that an important piece of equipment was being decommissioned at the Materials and Fuels Complex’s Electron Microscopy Laboratory.“Just wanted to let you know that the EML Quanta 3D FEG, the FIB that proved everyone wrong about using a focused ion beam (to study irradiated materials), is being decommissioned starting today,” Madden’s email r...