Philips has unexpectedly announced the imminent departure of CEO Frans van Houten, in the midst of a massive product recall. Van Houten would be replaced on October 15 by Roy Jakobs. During his almost 12 years at the helm, Van Houten led the transformation of the once-sprawling conglomerate into a focused healthcare specialist.

There is a great need in healthcare, nanotechnology and other areas to improve our ability to see tiny objects that elude even the most powerful optical systems.