Medical imaging is a set of diagnostic techniques that noninvasively visualize internal anatomical structures and physiological processes using diverse physical modalities. Core methods include ionizing-radiation–based techniques (e.g., radiography, computed tomography, nuclear medicine, PET/SPECT), non-ionizing modalities (e.g., MRI, ultrasound, optical imaging), and hybrid systems (e.g., PET/CT, PET/MRI). These techniques exploit contrasts in tissue density, proton properties, acoustic impedance, or radiotracer distribution to generate qualitative and quantitative data. Medical imaging underpins clinical decision-making, image-guided interventions, treatment planning, and longitudinal monitoring, and increasingly incorporates advanced reconstruction algorithms, quantitative biomarkers, and AI-driven image analysis.
An international study of infant remains from 50,000–75,000 years ago has provided new evidence about the developmental trajectory of our evolutionary "cousins," Neanderthals.
Evolution
Jun 17, 2026
0
77
The vaquita (Phocoena sinus), an elusive porpoise found only in the shallow waters of Mexico's northern Gulf of California, is one of the rarest and most endangered marine mammals on Earth. Measuring about 5 feet (1.5 meters) ...
Biotechnology
Jun 15, 2026
1
45
A team led by Raju Tomer, professor of biological sciences at Columbia University, has created a new design for microscopes and microscope lenses that could push 3D tissue imaging beyond state-of-the-art systems while drastically ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jun 9, 2026
0
57
A light, flexible polymer material developed at the University of Waterloo could replace the lead in heavy X-ray aprons, providing the same protection from harmful radiation while reducing their weight by almost 90%.
Nanomaterials
Jun 8, 2026
0
9
When we think of wildlife trafficking, we might think of rhino horns or baby orangutans sold as pets—but the smuggling of sea creatures, a less well-known crime, is just as damaging to marine ecosystems. Unfortunately, many ...
Ecology
Jun 7, 2026
0
45
Imagine a future where cancer treatment affects only the tumor, where eye injections are no longer required and brain surgeries don't result in large incisions or long recovery times. That's the future researchers at Michigan ...
Bio & Medicine
Jun 6, 2026
0
139
When doctors and scientists want to see inside a body, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful tool. MRI can noninvasively capture detailed images of the body's muscles, organs, and bones. It can monitor blood flow ...
Bio & Medicine
May 28, 2026
0
503
Every year, about 85,000 Americans are diagnosed with bladder cancer. While treatment is often successful, bladder cancer has one of the highest rates of recurrence of any cancer: Following treatment, about 50% of patients ...
Bio & Medicine
May 28, 2026
0
10
Medications are designed to treat diseased tissues while sparing healthy ones, often by attaching the drug to something that helps guide it directly to its target. But drugs also need time to work, which means they need to ...
Bio & Medicine
May 13, 2026
0
11
Whether in tooth enamel or in nanomaterials made of silicon, the orientation of tiny internal structures often determines the properties of a material. A new X-ray method can even make this nano-order visible when the structures ...
Optics & Photonics
May 12, 2026
0
21
