The X-ray fluorescence map of an adherent cell is shown in Figure 1. Each panel shows the distribution of a particular element (e.g., copper, iron, zinc, etc) over the cell. The panel labeled 's_a' shows the absorption of X-rays.

Figure 1. X-ray fluorescence map of an adherent cell.

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X-ray fluorescence imaging can be a useful tool in many fields including geosciences, forensic science, materials science, biology, and even in studying our cultural heritage. In materials science, it can help find defects in chips and catalysts made with metals. In cultural heritage work, it has been used to identify poisonous metals in the hair of famous dead people (e.g., Beethoven), and to identify the source of paints used in art. In biology, it is used to study the natural metals that perform important biochemistry