Soft raw materials
Posted in Tips
A UK postdoc came to our lab in the US and was surprised that we didn’t have any Blu-Tack in the lab. His old lab wasn’t the only UK lab that goes through…
EM and fluorescence analysis in the same preparation
Posted in Hardware
Several labs have set up their own workflows for imaging the same tissue using both fluorescence and electron microscopy (EM). Zeiss just released a product, called Shuttle-and-Find, to streamline this. It’s pretty simple,…
Structured illumination
Structured illumination can be used to increase the resolution of wide field fluorescence imaging. The idea is best motivated by thinking about Moire fringes. In panel (a) below, if you stand away from…
Capacitive touch sensors
Posted in Hardware
We covered a simple lickometer circuit previously. Another useful interface is a capacitive touch sensor. In contrast to light gate sensors, there are no extra photons floating around that could disturb…
Some OSX programs & tips
This is just a quick post to highlight a few Mac OSX programs & tips that you might find useful.
Programs
Default Folder – This is how all save file dialogs should work. Watch…
Colorblind-proof two color scheme
Posted in Software
The usual color scheme for showing co-localization is to overlay a red image and a green image and have the yellow portions show the sites of co-localization. This is problematic since red-green colorblind…
Otyp: More than just another open source PCR machine
Posted in Hardware
It seems like everyone is coming up with new open source PCR machines/thermocyclers. Here’s another project, this time from an outfit called Otyp. What’s unique about this iteration (besides the beautiful prototype…
Troubleshooting Fluorescence Microscopy
Posted in Tips
Jim Pawley upgraded the 39 Steps from a simple MacGuffin to a classic checklist for troubleshooting fluorescent microscopy images. Now 10 years old, it remains very relevant. It covers thirty-nine different parameters…
Shapeways sample pack
Posted in Hardware
Shapeways now has a sample pack you can order to help you pick a process and material for your 3D printed object. It’s $30, but comes with a $25 voucher for…
TREES: MATLAB toolbox
Posted in Software
A new paper in PLoS Computation Biology proposes an elegant formalism for describing neuronal morphology. The reason I’m highlighting it on Labrigger is because the authors have simultaneously released a very extensive,…
Build with PVC piping using these better fittings
Posted in Hardware
PVC plumbing pipe is often used for cheap and easy builds such as Faraday cages for electrophysiology rigs. However, the choice of sizes and fitings is rather limited. Enter FORMUFIT. They offer…
LavaAmp: miniPCR
Posted in Hardware
LavaAmp is a thermocycler (aka PCR machine) that promises to bring PCR to the masses. The aim is to have it available by 1Q 2011 for about $400. …
Open Hardware Summit
Posted in Hardware
In academia, we have some nice benefits when it comes to intellectual property. Just about everything we do qualifies as scholarship, and so we take ample advantage of that portion of fair…
Shapeways – Cheap 3D printing
Posted in Tips
Shapeways is geared towards the arts and crafts crowd, so they don’t offer the professional options a place like Quickparts does. But they do offer very competitive prices. In particular, if you…
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