A longstanding major concern of X-ray microscopy is radiation damage, as high energy X-rays produce strong radicals and trigger harmful reactions in wet specimens. As a result, biological samples are usually fixated or freeze-dried before being irradiated with high-power X-rays. Rapid cryo-treatments are also commonly used in order to preserve intact hydrated structures. See also X-ray computed tomography Electron microscope Neutron microscope References External links Scientific applications of soft x-ray microscopy Microscope Microscopes