Octopus eggs and beyond: how the Nikon Small World competition reveals new perspectives (photos)
In 1975, the Nikon Small World competition was established, merging science and art. Every year, scientists and photography enthusiasts submit their images for the contest, and a jury selects the winners.
This year, the jury chose the top twenty photographs, with the winner being a microphotography of differentiated brain tumor cells from mice by Dr. Bruno Cistern and Dr. Eric Vitriola.
The image showcases the intricate structures of differentiated brain tumor cells in mice. This photograph was part of a study aimed at better understanding how changes in the structures that help cells maintain their shape and transport molecules can lead to neurodegenerative diseases.
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Second place went to a photo of the electric arc between a pin and a wire taken by Dr. Marcel Clemens. An electric arc is a discharge of electric current due to a break in the circuit, and to create it, Clemens had to apply a potential difference of a staggering 10,000 volts.
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Third place was awarded to a photograph of a hemp plant leaf. The bulbous glands are trichomes, and the bubbles inside are cannabinoid vesicles. Author: Kris Romen.
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A total of 87 photographs were submitted to the competition. In addition to the top three winners, "Telegraph" has selected a dozen more interesting entries for you.
A cluster of octopus eggs (Octopus hummelincki).
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Mold and slime on a decaying branch with water droplets
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The eyes of a green crab spider
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Two water fleas (Daphnia sp.) with embryos (on the left) and eggs (on the right)
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The front section of a palm weevil
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Slime mold (Prototrichia metallica). Notably, this is neither a plant, an animal, nor even a fungus: it is a unicellular organism found in soil. They exist in virtually any shape and color imaginable. The distinctive feature of this organism is that it grows through branched networks of slimy tendrils.
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Common sand from the beach
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Human neurons
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A tiny fly nearly destroyed by a "zombie fungus" (Entomophthora muscae)
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All photos were taken by scientists and enthusiasts using Nikon microscopes. This year, the competition celebrated its 49th anniversary.
As a reminder, earlier "Telegraph" reported that in one of the 7 cm of the world, they discovered a secret tomb with skeletons. A hidden chamber containing 12 skeletons was uncovered by a team of researchers at a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Petra.