These tiny details in life may be invisible, but they are certainly not non-existent. The Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition (previously) will return in 2025, highlighting the complexity of the world beyond the naked eye.
From dozens of algae cells floating in a drop of water to the inner workings of a dedifferentiated liver cell, this year’s collection of winning images and honorable mentions capture the microscopic diversity of life forms. Browse the competition’s online gallery to learn more and add some science to the mix on Instagram.
Zhang You, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China. Rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae) on rice grainsDr. Jan Rosenboom, Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. Colonial algae (Volvox) sphere in a drop of waterRogelio Moreno, Panama City, Panama. Sporangia (sporangia) of fernsDr. Francisco Lázaro-Diéguez, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York. dedifferentiated hepatocytesMarek Miś, Marek Miś Photography Suwalki, Podlasie Voivodeship, Poland. Sunflower trichomes (hair-like plant growths)Dr. Igor Robert Siwanowicz, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Janelia Research Park, Ashburn, VA. Spores (blue/purple structures) of a small tropical fern (Ceratopteris richardii)Dr. Stephen De Lisle, Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Karlstad, Karlstad, Värmland, Sweden. Lily pollen (autofluorescence)Bernard Allard, French Microscopy Club, Sucy-en-Bry, France. Parasitic fly (Crataerina hirundinis)
