You just know how they found out about this...
> "I got the idea of using espresso as a staining agent from the circular dried stains in used coffee cups,"
Suuure...
You just know how they found out about this...
> "I got the idea of using espresso as a staining agent from the circular dried stains in used coffee cups,"
Suuure...
Quoting more:
> "I got the idea of using espresso as a staining agent from the circular dried stains in used coffee cups," says Claudia Mayrhofer, who is responsible for ultramicrotomy at the institute. During preparation, she cuts tissue samples into wafer-thin slices and fixes them onto sample holders. Staining is the last step before examination under the electron microscope.
I'm curious about the grad student who is the second author on the research paper. Is he the one tasked with the current-SOP staining with (radioactive and poisonous) uranyl acetate? Was it his overworked-and-drowsy "oopsie" which lead to the discovery?
Amusing, but no (at least I sincerely hope). Food and wet samples are never in the same vicinity as a matter of OSHA (plus just a general desire not to get yourself or others killed). Violating that would typically be a great way to speedrun getting fired.
Radioactive substances go beyond that, generally being handled in their own dedicated area that no one else is permitted to enter for any reason. The level of paranoia is actually fairly impressive (but obviously necessary).
I hope the staining agent is at least visually very different from Espresso.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranyl_acetate
- so easily distinguished from espresso. OTOH...
https://www.google.com/search?q=far+side+comic+culture+of+am...
Funny, on that page it also lists oolong tea as a staining agent.
So, coffee, tea and Uranyl acetate...
You figure they accidentally spilled some coffee and just went with it? That's my guess.