Maurice Mikkers, a former lab technician turned scientific photographer, has developed a revolutionary camera that allows us to peer inside the black box of a centrifuge as it processes samples. The mesmerizing videos captured by this innovative camera reveal fluid dynamics in unprecedented detail.
Mikkers, who previously worked at the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, was inspired to create the centrifuge camera after years of using centrifuges without a clear understanding of what happened inside the machine during the spinning process.
The camera captures the intense vibrations of atoms in a dye molecule when stimulated by near-infrared light. This process, known as a plasmon, causes the cell membrane of cancerous cells to rupture. In lab cultures of human melanoma cells, the method demonstrated a remarkable 99 percent efficiency, and half of the mice with melanoma tumors became cancer-free after treatment.
The “molecular jackhammers,” as Mikkers refers to them, operate at incredible speeds and can be activated with near-infrared light, penetrating as deep as 10 centimeters into the human body without causing damage to tissue. This advancement opens new possibilities for research applications in various fields, including physics, genetics, food science, and wastewater treatment.
Researchers see potential applications for the centrifuge camera in the recovery of valuable resources from wastewater sludge. Collaborating with rheologist Lorenzo Botto from Delft University of Technology, Mikkers is working on the ‘Sludgecam’ project. The smart centrifuge camera aims to provide insights into lab-scale centrifuge processes, allowing for more effective wastewater treatment and potential applications in biotechnology and food processing.
The groundbreaking camera developed by Mikkers offers a unique perspective into the world of fluid dynamics, unveiling possibilities for advancements in scientific research and practical applications across different industries.
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Reference: https://www.sciencealert.com/incredible-videos-take-us-inside-a-centrifuge-for-the-first-time