# X-ray method maps fibre mechanics across intact spinal discs

_Published Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 2:36 AM EST · Science · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

Researchers reporting in Nature demonstrated TomoSAXS, an X-ray imaging method that links nanoscale properties of individual collagen fibres to their deformation across intact spinal discs. They tested three intact rat discs under compression and extended the technique to an intact human disc in static conditions.

The method combines three-dimensional fibre tracing with X-ray scattering measurements, using a single rotation axis to separate signals from individual fibres. This reduces the angular sampling required compared with existing techniques. In the rat experiments, researchers reconstructed nanoscale properties for more than 55% of fibres within the scanned volume; the human demonstration did not measure deformation under load.

## Sources

- [Nature](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-11148-5)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/MmaG7LmoFwzGJJFYCfYhUJ
Published: 2026-11-05T07:36:07.011Z
Story chronology: 2026-11-04T00:00:00.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-11-05T10:43:31.233Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)