Atomic-Force Microscopy (AFM) data: Are these images real?

Atomic-Force Microscopy (AFM) data: Are these images real? Focusing on atomic-force microscopy (AFM) data, Nancy A. Burnham examines the challenges in image processing for scientific research, highlighting how different techniques yield varied images and clearer views of key features. The choices researchers make during processing can therefore lead to differing conclusions, underscoring the importance of critical evaluation in scientific publications. Research scientists often use images as a means of communicating results. Inevitably, there are judgement calls to be made in the processing of images from the raw data to a scientific publication. But to what extent is one’s judgement correct?