X‐ray microscopy enables high‐resolution analysis of thick specimens such as several microns in aqueous and atmospheric pressure environments in fields of biological and material sciences. Most commonly, zone plates (ZPs) are used as optical elements in combination with the use of synchrotron radiation (SR) as an x‐ray source. It is realized at the x‐ray microscopy station at BL‐12 of Ritsumeikan University SR center. The highest spatial resolution is 50 nm. The beam line is open to researchers from universities, government research centers and companies and has been applied in biology, medicine, and material science. The present paper describes a recent progress and recent results of BL12. © 2004 American Institute of Physics