From microscopy to nanoscopy via visible light

The resolution of conventional optical equipment is always restricted by the diffraction limit, and improving on this was previously considered improbable. Optical super-resolution imaging, which has recently experienced rapid growth and attracted increasing global interest, will result in applications in many domains, benefiting fields such as biology, medicine and material research. This review discusses the contributions of different researchers who identified the diffractive barrier and attempted to realize optical super-resolution. This is followed by a personal viewpoint of the development of optical nanoscopy in recent decades and the road towards the next generation of optical nanoscopy.