Scientists at the University of Arizona have unveiled a unique laser microscope that can take images at a speed of one billionth of a billionth of a billionth of a second. This method, called “attomicroscopy”, promises to answer fundamental questions about the behavior of electrons inside molecules. The device is a modified transmission electron microscope that uses a beam of electrons to image objects as small as a few nanometers. To obtain clear images of ultrafast objects, the researchers used a laser, breaking the electron beam into ultra-short pulses. Although the microscope cannot yet capture images of a single electron because of the need for extremely high spatial resolution, the project authors were able to create a frame-by-frame movie showing the movement of a group of electrons through a molecule. According to the scientists, the technique will open up new possibilities for observing chemical reactions and studying the movement of electrons across DNA, which could lead to the creation of new materials and personalized medicines.