The Alphabet Soup of Microscopy: An Introduction to Advanced Imaging Techniques. Part I: Super-Resolution’s STED, SIM, SMI, and SMLM

As technology advances, the field of microscopy offers unique opportunities for scientific exploration. However, the complex terminology used to describe these cutting-edge techniques often appears as a jumble of letters, akin to alphabet soup. Among the plethora of acronyms, some of the most prevalent are associated with super-resolution microscopy, including Stimulated Emission Depletion Microscopy (STED), Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM), Spatially Modulated Illumination (SMI), and Single-Molecule Localization Microscopy (SMLM). These techniques push past the limitations of conventional light microscopy, achieving resolutions down to the tens of nanometers. This article aims to decode these common super-resolution techniques, fostering a deeper understanding of microscopy and igniting interest in their application.