We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Open, reproducible hardware for microscopy
ClearQuantitative assessment of visual microscopy as a tool for microplastic research: Recommendations for improving methods and reporting
Researchers conducted a multi-laboratory study across six countries to assess how accurately visual microscopy identifies microplastics in water samples. They found significant variability between laboratories in particle counts, size measurements, and material identification, with accuracy declining for smaller and transparent particles. The study recommends improved standardization and quality control measures to make microscopy a more reliable tool in microplastic research.
Contamination control in micro- and nanoplastics research: a diagnostic framework for reproducible analysis
Researchers developed a Contamination Control Scorecard (CCS) — a practical diagnostic tool that helps microplastic scientists identify where contamination enters their experiments, assess lab practices, and improve reporting transparency. Controlling contamination is a fundamental challenge in the field, and standardized frameworks like this are essential for producing reproducible, trustworthy results.
Do We Speak the Same Language for Reference Particles in Microplastic Research?
This paper argues that the microplastics research community lacks agreement on standardized reference particles for laboratory experiments, making it difficult to compare results across studies. The authors call for consensus on definitions and materials to improve the reproducibility and policy relevance of microplastic research.
An efficient solution for correlative microscopy and co-localized observations based on multiscale multimodal machine-readable nanoGPS tags
This paper presents a new microscopy navigation system using tiny patterned tags that allows researchers to find and relocate the same microscopic regions across different types of instruments. While a technical methods paper, tools like this could improve microplastic characterization using multiple analytical techniques.
Linking the physical and chemical characteristics of single small microplastics or nanoplastics via photolithographic silicon substrates
Researchers developed photolithographic silicon substrates as a platform to co-locate individual small microplastics and nanoplastics, enabling simultaneous morphological and chemical characterization of the same single particles using multiple analytical instruments.
Common laboratory reagents: Are they a double-edged sword in microplastics research?
This study tested whether common laboratory reagents themselves are contaminated with microplastics and found measurable plastic particles in several widely used chemicals, raising the concern that lab reagents could be an overlooked source of contamination in microplastic research.
A Handy Open-Source Application Based on Computer Vision and Machine Learning Algorithms to Count and Classify Microplastics
An open-source computer vision application was developed to automatically count and classify microplastics in microscopy images, achieving accuracy comparable to manual counting while processing samples orders of magnitude faster, offering the scientific community a free tool to reduce the bottleneck of tedious visual microplastic enumeration.
Quantification of microplastics: Which parameters are essential for a reliable inter-study comparison?
Inconsistent measurement methods make it very difficult to compare microplastic data across studies. This paper proposes standardized guidelines for quantifying microplastic size and shape distributions, which would allow scientists to better track pollution levels over time and across locations.
Microplastic and nanoplastic analysis methods, tests and reference materials
Researchers described a workflow combining a streamlined experimental setup with automated image analysis to quantify marine microplastic debris, addressing the limitations of labor-intensive manual counting methods that currently prevent scalable and consistent global plastic monitoring.
Microplastic identification in marine environments: A low-cost and effective approach based on transmitted light measurements
Researchers designed a low-cost microplastic detection system using a standard LCD panel and a digital USB microscope to measure transmitted light through seawater samples. The compact system demonstrated effective detection and quantification of microplastics without the need for expensive laboratory instrumentation.
Improving Microspectroscopic Microplastic Data Extrapolation: From Field of View to Full Sample, and from Fragment 2D-Morphology to Mass
Researchers investigated methods to improve the reliability of microplastic data extrapolation from microspectroscopic subsampling, finding that current strategies result in 50% or greater error due to heterogeneous particle dispersion on filter substrates and proposing improved field-of-view protocols.
A practical primer for image-based particle measurements in microplastic research
This paper provides a practical guide for researchers to measure the size and shape of microplastic particles using image-based methods, proposing standardized metrics and workflows aligned with international guidelines. The authors recommend specific measurements for particle size and three shape descriptors that capture all relevant dimensions of particle shape. Standardizing how microplastics are measured is important because consistent data is needed to accurately assess the health risks these particles pose to ecosystems and humans.
The use of reference material in microplastic research: general aspects
This paper discussed general considerations for using certified reference materials in microplastic research, arguing that standardized reference materials are essential for ensuring that measurements are reproducible and comparable across different laboratories and studies. The lack of such standards remains a major limitation in the field.