See the unseen: from Frozen Viruses to Crawling Robots

How did scientists end up shooting electrons at biological samples? How does this give us pictures we can see? And can I build my own electron microscope at home?! In this talk we’ll explore the story of electron microscopes, from humble beginnings in the early 20th century to the well-established and versatile discipline it has evolved into today, electron microscopes have been a key tool in furthering our understanding of biology by letting us visualise biology at the nanometer scale.

Think MRI scanners just take pictures of the body? Think again. The same powerful magnets used for medical imaging can also control tiny robots. What once sounded like science fiction is becoming reality.
In this talk, discover how MRI machines work and how researchers in Leeds – and around the world - are using magnetic robotics to improve diagnosis and explore new treatment possibilities. As the value of MRI in healthcare is debated, see how scientists are pushing this remarkable machine beyond imaging to move robots, guide therapies, and open an exciting new frontier in medicine.

Flexible bronchoscopy offers a less invasive method for diagnosis but faces challenges in navigating the bronchial tree. Soft robotic technologies, especially “Soft Everting Vine Robots”, present a promising solution. Everting robots grow via tip extension instead of locomotion, which minimises external friction, making them a less invasive solution. They lack control over their direction of growth, so an extra steering mechanism for navigating the structure of the airways is needed. In this talk, a new design will be presented that allows for steering and mounting tools for biopsy.