Biology
Isotopic Labeling in Metabolic Tracing
Quick fact
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1960 was awarded for the use of radioactive isotopes to trace metabolic pathways, but the technique’s roots go back to the 1930s with pioneering work by Rudolf Schoenheimer and colleagues.
Why this is interesting
Ever wonder how scientists know exactly which atoms go where in a living cell? Imagine putting a glowing dye in a molecule and watching it travel—except the 'dye' is a tiny atomic variation that reveals every twist and turn.