Published on: 2026-10-30
Source: People’s Republic of China — Translation
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Chinese scientists have developed the world’s lightest wireless microscope weighing 1 gram. The device can cover an area 6 millimeters wide and record the neural activity of the mouse cerebral cortex with single-cell resolution. With this device, it is possible to simultaneously record the activity of over 8,500 neurons in one mouse — 25 times more than existing analogs of the same type. The research results were published on October 19 in the online version of the journal “Nature”.
One of the main goals in neuroscience research is to create a microscope that simultaneously “covers a wide field of view, provides a clear image, is lightweight to wear, and does not require wires.” Existing microscopes capable of distinguishing individual neurons provide clear images but often require the mouse’s head to be fixed under the device or the device to be connected by cable — making it difficult to study complex natural animal behaviors. Portable head-mounted microscopes do not require wires, but their field of view usually does not exceed 1 millimeter: they allow observation of only a small area of the brain region. To simultaneously cover a larger cortical area while maintaining high resolution, heavier microscopes with increased power consumption are needed.
In the photo—a mouse with an attached Airscope device moves freely around a specially equipped laboratory area. Xinhua News Agency Wei Mengjia
A team led by academician Dai Qunhai of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and professor at Tsinghua University, in collaboration with Dai Pu’s team from the General Hospital of the People’s Liberation Army of China, has developed an ultralight wireless mini-microscope called Airscope. Thanks to an integrated design and system optimization, it achieved single-cell level resolution (4–6 µm) within a field of view 6 millimeters in diameter—all using only four aspheric lenses.
The photo shows an image of neurons in the cerebral cortex of a mouse, obtained during observations. (Photo provided by the research team)
Thanks to this device, which can be “worn” by the animal, the research team was able to conduct many experiments that were previously practically impossible due to limitations related to cables or equipment weight. For example, the researchers simultaneously recorded the cortical brain activity of several mice while they explored an area of 5 square meters (simulating a natural habitat), and also tracked the prolonged independent movement of mice in a large maze with 32 endpoints.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.