A new kind of microscope is giving scientists a way to watch life inside cells with a clarity that feels almost unfair.

YEAST CELLS — Brewing yeast cells are seen under a microscope as part of a study on nonalcoholic beer. Credit must be given to the creator. Only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted.

Neuroblastoma cancer cells before (left) and after (right) chemotherapy. The black threads are the cell's internal scaffolding, which breaks apart during treatment. This damage should kill the cell, ...