Sterling Newberry
Encyclopedia
Sterling Price Newberry (born August 10, 1915) is an American
inventor and microscopist
, born in Springfield, Missouri
.
Newberry invented the shadow X-ray microscope
and is one of the founders of the Microscopy Society of America
.
The first X-ray
microscope
s had used grazing off lenses at a very low angle to focus X-ray images. However, the images were blurry from diffraction
. While working on an alternate approach for General Electric
, a technician
came to him with a badge
. The technician didn't believe there were X-Rays in the machine, he had taken his warning badge, with X-ray film, and placed a bit of screen wire on it. He pulled the badge out, and saw the exposed screen wire pattern
on it. But he also saw another screen wire pattern, far smaller and finer. Newberry recognized that the fine pattern was the screen wire mounting for the specimen
, but that it was 400-to-the-inch wire and that it had been magnified
by expansion of the shadow
.
This gave him the insight he needed to create a working commercial microscope, placing the specimen very close to a point source of X-rays and then farther back a photographic plate
. The "shadow" of the specimen would be under-exposed
, that is X-ray dark, on the plate. This process is similar to medical X-rays, except that the microscope uses a point source for clarity where as a medical x-ray tends to use a much larger x-ray source to avoid distortion
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
inventor and microscopist
Microscopy
Microscopy is the technical field of using microscopes to view samples and objects that cannot be seen with the unaided eye...
, born in Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
.
Newberry invented the shadow X-ray microscope
X-ray microscope
An X-ray microscope uses electromagnetic radiation in the soft X-ray band to produce images of very small objects.Unlike visible light, X-rays do not reflect or refract easily, and they are invisible to the human eye. Therefore the basic process of an X-ray microscope is to expose film or use a...
and is one of the founders of the Microscopy Society of America
Microscopy Society of America
The Microscopy Society of America was founded in 1942 as The Electron Microscope Society of America and is a non-profit organization that provides microanalytical facilities for studies within the sciences. Currently, there are approximately 3000 members. The society holds an annual meeting, which...
.
The first X-ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
microscope
Microscope
A microscope is an instrument used to see objects that are too small for the naked eye. The science of investigating small objects using such an instrument is called microscopy...
s had used grazing off lenses at a very low angle to focus X-ray images. However, the images were blurry from diffraction
Diffraction
Diffraction refers to various phenomena which occur when a wave encounters an obstacle. Italian scientist Francesco Maria Grimaldi coined the word "diffraction" and was the first to record accurate observations of the phenomenon in 1665...
. While working on an alternate approach for General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
, a technician
Technician
A technician is a worker in a field of technology who is proficient in the relevant skills and techniques, with a relatively practical understanding of the theoretical principles. Experienced technicians in a specific tool domain typically have intermediate understanding of theory and expert...
came to him with a badge
Badge
A badge is a device or fashion accessory, often containing the insignia of an organization, which is presented or displayed to indicate some feat of service, a special accomplishment, a symbol of authority granted by taking an oath , a sign of legitimate employment or student status, or as a simple...
. The technician didn't believe there were X-Rays in the machine, he had taken his warning badge, with X-ray film, and placed a bit of screen wire on it. He pulled the badge out, and saw the exposed screen wire pattern
Pattern
A pattern, from the French patron, is a type of theme of recurring events or objects, sometimes referred to as elements of a set of objects.These elements repeat in a predictable manner...
on it. But he also saw another screen wire pattern, far smaller and finer. Newberry recognized that the fine pattern was the screen wire mounting for the specimen
Specimen
A specimen is a portion/quantity of material for use in testing, examination, or study.BiologyA laboratory specimen is an individual animal, part of an animal, a plant, part of a plant, or a microorganism, used as a representative to study the properties of the whole population of that species or...
, but that it was 400-to-the-inch wire and that it had been magnified
Magnification
Magnification is the process of enlarging something only in appearance, not in physical size. This enlargement is quantified by a calculated number also called "magnification"...
by expansion of the shadow
Shadow
A shadow is an area where direct light from a light source cannot reach due to obstruction by an object. It occupies all of the space behind an opaque object with light in front of it. The cross section of a shadow is a two-dimensional silhouette, or reverse projection of the object blocking the...
.
This gave him the insight he needed to create a working commercial microscope, placing the specimen very close to a point source of X-rays and then farther back a photographic plate
Photographic plate
Photographic plates preceded photographic film as a means of photography. A light-sensitive emulsion of silver salts was applied to a glass plate. This form of photographic material largely faded from the consumer market in the early years of the 20th century, as more convenient and less fragile...
. The "shadow" of the specimen would be under-exposed
Exposure (photography)
In photography, exposure is the total amount of light allowed to fall on the photographic medium during the process of taking a photograph. Exposure is measured in lux seconds, and can be computed from exposure value and scene luminance over a specified area.In photographic jargon, an exposure...
, that is X-ray dark, on the plate. This process is similar to medical X-rays, except that the microscope uses a point source for clarity where as a medical x-ray tends to use a much larger x-ray source to avoid distortion
Distortion
A distortion is the alteration of the original shape of an object, image, sound, waveform or other form of information or representation. Distortion is usually unwanted, and often many methods are employed to minimize it in practice...
.