The latest production from the “molecular movie” imaging technology developed at Oregon State University is a new, inexpensive way of dealing with a common environmental pollutant. Based on short-pulse lasers, the imaging technology allows chemical and biological actions to be measured as they are occurring, one high-speed frame at a time.

The measurements occur on the level of the femtosecond—one-millionth of one-billionth of a second. A femtosecond is to a second roughly as a second is to 32 million years.

“We’re able to slow down the observation of chemical processes and understand the exact sequences of biochemical reactions,” said Chong Fang, professor of chemistry at OSU, who unveiled the technology in 2014. “It’s a really powerful tool to study, understand and tune biological processes. Now we have extended the tool set to delineate a wide array of chemical processes.”