Osteoporosis is often known as ‘the silent epidemic’ because so many of those affected only become aware of the problem after they have experienced a bone fracture. The condition can be permanently disabling and affects one in 3 women and one in 12 men. Why do some people break their bones as they get older while others with the same amount of bone do not? This team has developed a method that may provide the answer and is generating international interest. The technique identifies microscopic disconnections in the honeycomb structure of bone to see if these contribute to broken hips and collapsed spines. This method should lead to earlier, more accurate recognition of patients who are at greatest risk, enabling preventative treatment. Also, by pin-pointing the sites of weakness, the method may lead to a better understanding of why the tiny gaps appeared in the first place.