Fluorescence loss in photobleaching

When we use light to look at things like cells, molecules, or tissues, sometimes the light can be so strong that it damages the thing we're looking at. This is called photobleaching.

Imagine you have a toy car that's the same color as your shirt. If you shine a bright light on it for a long time, the color of the car might start to fade or disappear completely. That's like photobleaching.

Sometimes, instead of making the color fade away completely, the light can cause the molecules in the thing we're looking at to change in a way that makes them not glow as brightly. This is called fluorescence loss in photobleaching.

It's kind of like if you have a toy that lights up when you push a button. If you push the button over and over again, eventually the battery will run out and the toy won't light up as brightly. That's like fluorescence loss in photobleaching.

Scientists use a special microscope to look at things without damaging them too much. But sometimes even with the special microscope, photobleaching can still happen and cause fluorescence loss. Understanding how much photobleaching might happen can help scientists make sure they're looking at something accurately.