A concept for a novel X-ray microscope promises three-dimensional images of delicate objects like biological cells using a thousand times less damaging radiation than conventional methods. The novel microscope would allow to image whole cells at high resolution in their native environment, without freezing, cutting or staining them. DESY scientists Pablo Villanueva-Perez, Saša Bajt and Henry Chapman from the Center for Free-Electron laser Science (CFEL) present their concept in the journal Optica. The simulation study yields a bright perspective for the planned upgrade of DESY’s storage ring PETRA III to a next generation X-ray source, PETRA IV.