For centuries, human fascination with the living world motivated the development of tools for visualizing life’s events at the spatiotemporal scales beyond our visual range. While all optical microscopes use light to probe the object of interest, fluorescence microscopes can discern between the object and background at the molecular scale. At this scale, the stochastic properties of light are fundamental to interpreting fluorescence microscopy data. Accordingly quantitative methods that enable such interpretation necessitate stochastic perspective and the use of statistical concepts. The physical-optical principles governing the formation of fluorescent images and modeling tools interpreting these images while accounting for the stochasticity of light and measurements are reviewed.

Fluorescence microscope image from a video showing the dynamics of active nematics confined to a cardioid along with the tracks of three defects, which form a braid. Selected for an Editors’ Suggestion.

The American Physical Society (APS) is pleased to announce that it will begin sponsoring Astrobites, a daily astrophysical literature journal written by graduate students in astronomy. This mutually beneficial collaboration aims to enhance the dissemination of research, educational resources, and career insights in the field of astronomy and astrophysics.

APS has selected 156 Outstanding Referees for 2024 who have demonstrated exceptional work in the assessment of manuscripts published in the Physical Review journals. A full list of the Outstanding Referees is available online.