We developed a "smart" microscopy system that can automatically detect rare biological events in living cells while keeping them healthy. Traditional fluorescence microscopy provides detailed information but damages cells with intense light. Our hybrid approach uses gentle phase contrast imaging to continuously monitor cells, switching to fluorescence only when interesting events occur. Our new artificial intelligence system, now aware of sample dynamics, learned to recognize specific cellular events—like when organelles make contact or when mitochondria divide—directly from phase contrast images. This smart detection triggers targeted fluorescence imaging at just the right moment. With this, we reduced light-induced cell damage by over 100-fold while capturing 10 times more rare events. Cells now survive experiments that are 10 times longer, allowing researchers to study biological processes that were previously impossible to observe.
This technology enables biologists to study delicate cellular processes in their natural state, opening new possibilities for understanding how cells function in health and disease. The approach is broadly applicable to many types of biological research where preserving cell health is crucial for obtaining meaningful results.
