Publications
October 31, 2025
Spotlight Reads!
“The sci-fi films that physicists love to watch — from Interstellar to Spider-Man”
This light-hearted yet insightful piece explores what science-fiction films resonate with physicists and why. In celebration of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, the article reports that scientists consistently cite Interstellar and The Prestige as their favorites, due to their thoughtful treatment of physics concepts and the emotional impact of storytelling. While their views on quantum mechanics diverge wildly, certain cinematic moments unite them.
Why it’s worth reading:
It offers a unique cultural lens into how scientists view popular media and their own field of study.
The piece highlights how fiction can stimulate public engagement with complex scientific concepts, especially those related to quantum physics.
For anyone involved in science communication, outreach, or education, it’s a reminder of the power of storytelling in bridging science and society.
Takeaway: When science fiction is done right, it’s not fantasy — it’s inspiration.
It transforms abstract physics into relatable stories that inspire wonder, spark conversation, and foster creativity.
Employee spotlight
Meagan Belcher Dufrisne, Scientist III
Meagan earned her Ph.D. in 2018 from Columbia University and went on to complete her postdoctoral training at the University of Virginia, where she was awarded the NIH F32 Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship—a testament to her scientific excellence.
Her research has focused on uncovering the structure and function of membrane proteins involved in bacterial pathogenesis and cell wall biosynthesis. Meagan brings a wealth of expertise in structural biology, protein biochemistry, and biophysics, and she’s eager to apply her skills to innovative research and technology development here at Helix. See her LinkedIn here
Featured services
MX Data Collection Service:
Helix is a world leader in synchrotron X-ray data collection. We make it extremely simple to schedule your desired data collection using our booking website. Helix takes care of the entire process, including handling all the shipping logistics (including making shipping paperwork), synchrotron agreements/forms, and storage of raw/processed data. With over 50 years of combined synchrotron and industrial data collection experience, our customers rely on Helix for X-ray data collection and stick with us due to our quality, reliability, and continuous access to beamtime. We offer by-the-crystal pricing, so whether you have a few samples or hundreds per week, we can help with your x-ray data collection and help optimize your structure solution process.
News you can use
Rigid Fabs Push Cryo-EM to Smaller Targets
Researchers from UCSF and Genentech have developed “Rigid Fabs”—antibody fragments stabilized with engineered disulfide bonds—to overcome one of cryo-EM’s toughest challenges: imaging small proteins under 50 kDa. Published in Nature Communications (Oct 2025), the study achieved 2.3–2.8 Å resolution structures of Ang2 (26 kDa) and KRAS G12C (~21 kDa), demonstrating that enhanced Fab rigidity can dramatically improve particle alignment and map quality. This approach expands cryo-EM’s reach to small, drug-relevant targets once considered intractable, marking a significant step toward making high-resolution cryo-EM a truly universal tool for structure-guided drug discovery.
HELIX HIGHLIGHTS
To serve the community better, our scientists are getting trained regularly!
Our scientists John Kim and Ben Watson recently visited the University of Chicago Cryo-EM Core to further their expertise in advanced sample preparation techniques. Hands-on experiences like this play a vital role in expanding technical skills and strengthening collaboration across the structural biology community. We’re thankful to our Director of Electron Microscopy, James Fuller, for his leadership and support in driving this ongoing pursuit of excellence and partnership.
Instrument review
The Thermo Scientific Vitrobot Mark IV System offers semi-automated vitrification to provide fast, easy, and reproducible sample preparation for cryo-EM. It performs the cryo-fixation process at constant physical and mechanical conditions like temperature, relative humidity, blotting conditions, and freezing velocity. This ensures high-quality cryo-fixation results and a high sample preparation throughput prior to cryo-TEM observation.
We are equipped with a Vitrobot Mark IV System in-house and can prepare grids without freezing protein samples. This will allow us to produce the highest quality cryo-EM data and images to define protein structures for our customers. Contact us today to discuss how we can help you with your cryo-EM projects.
Helix Protein Art
