Science Lab

Learn. Share. Contribute. The knowledge portal of Leica Microsystems. Find scientific research and teaching material on the subject of microscopy. The portal supports beginners, experienced practitioners and scientists alike in their everyday work and experiments. Explore interactive tutorials and application notes, discover the basics of microscopy as well as high-end technologies. Become part of the Science Lab community and share your expertise.

Spherulitic crystals of hippuric acid, which were imaged with a Leica microscope using crossed polarizers, showing so-called Maltese crosses.

A Guide to Polarized Light Microscopy

Polarized light microscopy (POL) enhances contrast in birefringent materials and is used in geology, biology, and materials science to study minerals, crystals, fibers, and plant cell walls.

Guide to Microscopy in Cancer Research

Cancer is a complex and heterogeneous disease caused by cells deficient in growth regulation. Genetic and epigenetic changes in one or a group of cells disrupt normal function and result in…

Example of a Leica stereo microscope, Ivesta 3, with integrated digital camera which can be used as a dissecting microscope.

Selecting the Right Dissecting Microscope

Learn how you can enhance dissection for life-science research and education with a microscope that ensures ergonomic comfort, high-quality optics, and easy access to the specimen.

A Guide to Neuroscience Research

Are you working towards a better understanding of neurodegenerative diseases or studying the function of the nervous system? See how you can make breakthroughs with imaging solutions from Leica…

A Practical Guide to Virology Research

Leica solutions for imaging and sample preparation help you with the investigation of viral entry and fusion, genome integration, viral replication, assembly, and virus budding.

A Guide to OCT

Leica Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) systems support ophthalmologists, ophthalmic surgeons, and researchers with easy-to-use, high-quality imaging technology.

A Guide to Zebrafish Research

For the best result during screening, sorting, manipulation, and imaging you need to see details and structures to make the right decisions for your next steps in research. Known for outstanding…

A Guide to Cryo-Electron Tomography

Cryo-electron tomography (CryoET) is used to resolve biomolecules within their cellular environment down to an unprecedented resolution below one nanometer.

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma imaged with Cell DIVE. Analysis done by Aivia.

A Guide to Spatial Biology

What is spatial biology, and how can researchers leverage its tools to meet the growing demands of biological questions in the post-omics era? This article provides a brief overview of spatial biology…