November 18, 2009 | 2 comments

Illuminating the Lilliputian: 10 Bioscapes Photo Contest Winners Revealed

A gallery of images captured by light microscopy reveals the high art of the natural world

By Gary Stix   

 
e-mail comment
< Prev     1 of 10     Next >
1. Dr. Jan Michels

Water flea (Daphnia atkinsoni) sports a comblike crown of thorns (green, spiny structure in head) to make itself unappetizing to predators. The crown, which measures about 200 microns across, emerges in offspring of parents that sense a chemical signal emitted by the tadpole shrimp (Triops cancriformis). Jan Michels of Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Germany, who won first prize, used confocal laser scanning microscopy to create the image. Exposed to the laser light of the microscope, a dye that stains the exoskeleton fluoresces green, and some of the internal tissues fluoresce on their own, including the compound eye, which turns blue and red.

< Prev     1 of 10     Next >
 

Share
Propeller    Digg!  Reddit delicious  Fark 
Slashdot    RT @sciam Illuminating the Lilliputian: 10 Bioscapes Photo Contest Winners RevealedTwitter Review it on NewsTrust 
sharebar end

You Might Also Like



Discuss This Article


Click here to submit your comment.

VIEW:

2,573 characters remaining
 
  Email me when someone responds to this discussion.
 


risk free issuefree gift

Sciam - cover Email:
Name:
Address:
Address 2:
City:
State:  
spacer



World Changing Ideas



Editor's Pick


Newsletter

Energy & Sustainability Newsletter

Get weekly coverage delivered to your inbox


 Podcasts

  • 60-Second Science     RSS  · iTunes Botoxed Face Impairs Bad Feelings
    click to enable

    Download

  • 60-Second Science     RSS  · iTunes Distracted Customers' Wait Times Fly
    click to enable

    Download





ADVERTISEMENT
 
 

Also on Scientific American


© 2010 Scientific American, a division of Nature America, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
ADVERTISEMENT