Significant progress in scanning force microscope (SFM) imaging of biological systems, from cells to molecules, has occurred during the past year. The first part of this paper reviews the most important biochemical and structural results obtained during the last twelve months using the standard contact mode of imaging. The second part discusses latest technical advances that are likely to play a major role in the study of biological systems in the near future. Finally, the third part describes the recent use of the SFM as a non-imaging tool to measure single molecule mechanics. © 1994.