The syGlass Scientist
Conversations on syGlass’ Impact and Collaborations
syGlass Summer 2025 Release: v2.4.0
syGlass is a multipurpose tool, with applications in a wide range of fields that rely on the visualization and analysis of 3D image data. Today, automated annotation is a shared interest of researchers in nearly all of these fields. Our summer release of syGlass v2.4.0 brings with it new auto-annotation techniques that can be applied to a wide variety of workflows, alongside a slew of other improvements.
STEM Without Borders: syGlass and NCSSS Connect U.S. and China Through Innovation
In June 2025, syGlass cofounder and CEO Michael Morehead and Chief Business Officer Jason Osborne journeyed to China as part of a prestigious U.S. STEM delegation, leading efforts to forge bold new frontiers in global education and scientific collaboration. Representing the cutting edge of immersive technology, syGlass leadership engaged directly with Chinese educational leaders to explore how virtual reality can transform STEM teaching and research on a global scale.
Tooth Be Told: Prehistoric Sharks Didn’t Need Serrations to Snack on Whales
When we think of the great white shark, we often picture its iconic serrated teeth tearing through prey in a swift and deadly strike. These blade-like teeth, shaped by millions of years of evolution, help the modern Carcharodon carcharias feast on energy-rich marine mammals like seals and dolphins. But what about their ancient relatives, before those serrated edges ever evolved?
From West Texas to the Virtual Brain: My Journey into Neuroscience with syGlass
Hi everyone! My name is Kanishk Yankarla, and I’m thrilled to take you on a journey into the fascinating world of neuroscience. As a high school intern at syGlass, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to explore a game-changing technology—Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) in virtual reality. Let’s dive in!
A Night at the MIT Museum
Last week, I had the pleasure of giving a talk at the MIT Museum's After Dark series. The crowd was there to explore the theme of monsters: "It is said that Monsters reside in spaces not well understood. Join us as we navigate unchartered waters and explore unusual creatures real and imagined." — MIT Museum
syGlass Spring Release: v2.3.0
Our spring update is here in the form of syGlass v2.3.0, with new features that apply to a broad range of use cases, from image analysis and visualization to immersive content creation. Whether you’re an experienced syGlass user or only just becoming interested in the benefits of virtual reality (VR) for 3D imaging, we would love for you to give it a try: just send us a message to get started.
Blubber, Bones, and Breakthroughs: Unraveling Whale Anatomy Through Virtual Reality
When it comes to uncovering the mysteries of marine mammals, few scientists bring as much passion and expertise as Dr. Joy Reidenberg. A world-renowned comparative anatomist, Dr. Reidenberg has dedicated her career to exploring the intricacies of animal structures, from the smallest details of a bat's wing to the colossal adaptations of whales.
Bergen County Academy’s Vision for the Future of Education with syGlass
In a classroom at Bergen County Academies, located in northern New Jersey, a group of students slip on VR headsets for the first time. Their faces lighting up as they immerse themselves in a world of three-dimensional scientific data. One student zooms in on an MRI scan, rotating it in space to examine the intricate details of a brain tumor.
Bridging Education and Innovation: Midland ISD’s Young Women’s Leadership Academy Opens Doors with a Revolutionary STEM Lab
In a groundbreaking initiative that merges education and innovation, Diamondback Energy, in collaboration with syGlass, has transformed the learning experience for students at Midland ISD’s Young Women’s Leadership Academy (YWLA).
Announcing syGlass v2.2.0
syGlass v2.2.0—our first release of 2025—is here. Featuring the introduction of voice commands, improvements to the narration playback experience including video-like seeking and embedded assessments, mask customization features, and checkout of licenses for offline use, we think it has a little something for everyone.
When a Tongue Becomes a Parasite’s Throne
Imagine a creature so sinister it hijacks another's body, not to kill but to replace a part of it. Meet the tongue-eating louse (Cymothoa exigua)—a parasitic isopod that enters a fish's mouth, severs its tongue, and positions itself as a grotesque replacement. Though unsettling, this bizarre relationship allows the fish to survive, albeit at a grisly cost.
Immersive Virtual Reality is a Game Changer for Anatomy Education
While the use of extended reality (XR) within higher education has steadily increased in popularity since the launch of the Oculus Rift headset in 2013, there has been an ongoing debate between virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) as the ideal learning platform. As an early adopter of XR technology at UCSF, I quickly noticed a key metric that seemed important in the efficacy of these tools: immersion. Now, a new meta-analysis of XR anatomy training studies highlights immersion as a dominate factor in improvement of anatomy knowledge scores.
Unlocking the Hidden Beauty of Science with Virtual Reality and Direct Volume Rendering
Lightsheet? microCT? Serial block face electron microscopy? Have you ever heard of these technologies? Very few members of the public know of the silent imaging revolution happening right now in the life sciences. In fact, in 2023 alone, there were 7,000 manuscripts about lightsheet microscopy, and 17,000 manuscripts about microCT—new technologies that can produce stunning high-resolution 3D image volumes.
Building the STEM Continuum: A West Texas Community-Based Approach to Empowering Tomorrow's Leaders
In an age where STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers are increasingly vital, developing a robust pipeline of future talent is essential. Unfortunately, many students face barriers such as limited resources, lack of hands-on experiences, and inconsistent engagement, especially in areas like West Texas.
Entomology Explored: Bridging Research, Education and Outreach with X-ray Computed Microtomography and Virtual Reality
In recent years, technological advancements have opened up new possibilities for understanding the natural world. A prime example of this can be seen in the field of entomology, where researchers are now using X-ray computed microtomography (micro-CT) and virtual reality (VR) to study insects in ways that were previously unimaginable.
Diamondback Energy and syGlass Join Forces to Ignite STEM Education in Midland, Texas
Diamondback Energy has long been a champion of STEM education, recognizing its importance in building a vibrant, innovative future for the Midland, Texas community. In their latest initiative, Diamondback Energy has partnered with syGlass to create the Diamondback STEM Lab powered by syGlass within the Midland ISD school district.
syGlass v2.1.0 Release
At syGlass, we’re constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in virtual reality and scientific visualization. This week, that culminated in the release of syGlass v2.1.0, a major update with a focus on automated and manual volume segmentation routines.
Education & Medicine: Bringing Science to Life with Virtual Reality
Gone are the days of the COVID-19 pandemic- so why are we still asking ourselves where the people are? Shouldn’t they have returned to the workforce over four years after the country shut down? If the shortages are in full force now, how can we work to create a pipeline and cut down the shortages for the future?
Virtual Reality Meets Science: Dr. Benjamin Rein and syGlass Revolutionize Anatomical Visualization
In the ever-evolving landscape of science and technology, a groundbreaking collaboration is making waves. Dr. Benjamin Rein, a Stanford scientist and renowned science communicator, is showcasing the incredible capabilities of syGlass by visualizing the human cadaver dataset of Joseph Paul Jernigan.
Charting the Educational Horizon: High School Ventures into Real-World Research with Advanced Virtual Reality Technology and Post-Secondary Partnerships
In an innovative leap forward for high school education, the St. Vrain Valley Schools Innovation Center in Longmont, Colorado, has successfully integrated cutting-edge neuroscience research into its curriculum through a collaboration with syGlass and the University of South Florida.