biostudies-literaturePeddie CJCancer Research UKMedical Research CouncilThe Francis Crick InstituteNCI NIH HHSNINDS NIH HHSWellcome Trust51https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7614724biostudies-literatureUnknown2Life exists in three dimensions, but until the turn of the century most electron microscopy methods provided only 2D image data. Recently, electron microscopy techniques capable of delving deep into the structure of cells and tissues have emerged, collectively called volume electron microscopy (vEM). Developments in vEM have been dubbed a quiet revolution as the field evolved from established transmission and scanning electron microscopy techniques, so early publications largely focused on the bioscience applications rather than the underlying technological breakthroughs. However, with an explosion in the uptake of vEM across the biosciences and fast-paced advances in volume, resolution, throughput and ease of use, it is timely to introduce the field to new audiences. In this Primer, we inNature reviews. Methods primersVolume electron microscopy.PMC7614724R01 NS094499FC00199975N91019D00024R56 NS09449910004Narayan KGenoud CMicheva KDSchwab YPape CSchieber NLAubrey AMeechan KPeddie CJCollinson LMParton RGVerkade PKreshuk ATitze BfalseVolume electron microscopy.Life exists in three dimensions, but until the turn of the century most electron microscopy methods provided only 2D image data. Recently, electron microscopy techniques capable of delving deep into the structure of cells and tissues have emerged, collectively called volume electron microscopy (vEM). Developments in vEM have been dubbed a quiet revolution as the field evolved from established transmission and scanning electron microscopy techniques, so early publications largely focused on the bioscience applications rather than the underlying technological breakthroughs. However, with an explosion in the uptake of vEM across the biosciences and fast-paced advances in volume, resolution, throughput and ease of use, it is timely to introduce the field to new audiences. In this Primer, we in2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Jul2026-07-09T11:06:33.905Z2026-07-09T10:37:50.664ZS-EPMC76147243740932410.1038/s43586-022-00131-9