![M. Mitchell Smith (from left), Margaret Grant and Dean H. Kedes have used this microscope Smith built to reveal how a cancer-causing virus clings to our DNA.](https://makingofmedicine.virginia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Laser_Microscope_Cropped-1024x817-351x244.jpg)
We Made a Microscope (!) and Did Something Super Cool
This is one of my favorite stories: Our M. Mitchell Smith built an amazingly powerful microscope, piece by piece, and now he and collaborator Dean H. Kedes have used it to reveal how a cancer-causing virus attaches itself to our DNA. That knowledge could let scientists figure out how to…