Olympus has introduced the VivaView MG (Multi-Gas) incubator microscope, a long-term live cell incubation and imaging system optimized for stem cell, cancer, and other research requiring independent control of both oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, along with other environmental parameters. The self-contained system can be adjusted to provide the low oxygen (hypoxia) environmental conditions that many stem cell experiments and other advanced research protocols demand. VivaView MG is equipped with nitrogen purging to regulate oxygen levels and more exactly mimic physiological conditions. Controlling oxygen levels in embryonic stem cell work is vital because, in nature, early-developing embryos thrive with much lower levels of oxygen than are present in either the atmosphere, conventional incubators, or traditional microscope incubation systems. In non-embryonic stem cell studies, the microenvironment can affect gene regulation and differentiation, so it is important to control oxygen levels when growing such cells in vitro as well. Cartilage, cancerous and other specific tissue types exist in environments with no nearby blood supply; they too must often be studied using lower oxygen levels. The VivaView MG makes it possible to recreate these conditions during multi-dimensional imaging because it is a true incubator, incorporating a fully automated microscope imaging system driven by Metamorph for Olympus software. Post-acquisition processing, deconvolution, and analysis can also be achieved with the software. Olympus America Inc., 800-446-5967, www.olympusamerica.com/vivaview