How Microscopes Have Changed Our Lives - The Story of Hair Cell Research

This 1 hour 25 minute lecture from The Royal Institution explores how microscope development has shaped our understanding of sensory systems, particularly focusing on the inner ear. Join Anwen Bullen, a senior research fellow and microscopy unit manager at the UCL Ear Institute, as she delves into the fascinating world of hair cells - specialized detector cells that convert movement and sound waves into electrical signals our brains can process. Discover the parallel histories of microscopy advancement and hair cell research, from early hand-drawn anatomical illustrations to cutting-edge cryo-electron microscopy that reveals channel protein structures. Learn how these tiny cellular structures significantly impact our sensory perception and how pathologies like excessive noise and aging affect them. The lecture demonstrates how microscopic investigation has revolutionized our understanding of hearing, balance, and sensory processing over the past century.