The Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition – the premier science photography competition – is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. This marks five decades of showcasing a spectacular blend of science and art under the microscope.
This year’s winner is Dr Bruno Cisterna (with assistance from Dr Eric Vitriol of Augusta University), for his groundbreaking image of differentiated mouse brain tumour cells.
Differentiated cells such as these are vital to the study of diseases like Alzheimer's or Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), showing how these diseases can affect the structure of these cells.
Second place was awarded to Dr Marcel Clemens for his striking image of an electrical arc between a pin and a wire. Third place was awarded to Chris Romaine for his intricate image of a cannabis plant leaf, with bulbous structures known as trichomes.
The Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition is open to anyone interested in photography or video. For 50 years, the awards have championed the best microscopic imagery from around the world.
Here are our favourites from this year's competition.
Image of Distinction
Floret of a common chicory with pollen grains (which appear as spiky balls). 40X magnification. Photo by Dr Igor Robert Siwanowicz/Nikon Small World
Image of Distinction
A spore-producing moss plant known as a moss sporophyte is pictured with green spores. 10X magnification. Photo by Joshua Coogler/Nikon Small World
Image of Distinction
Pollen on the compound eyes of a fly. 60X magnification. Photo by Uwe Lange/Nikon Small World
Image of Distinction
A small fly killed by a 'zombie fly' fungus (Entomophthora muscae). Outbreaks of infection by this fungus usually occur in the spring and autumn. 2X magnification. Photo by Dr Amir Maqbool/Nikon Small World
Image of Distinction
The nervous system of a young sea star (Echinodermata). The sea star has no brain or blood but is well-known for being able to regenerate its limbs. 10X magnification. Photo by Dr Laurent Formery & Dr Nathaniel Clarke/Nikon Small World
Image of Distinction
An anterior section of palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) as seen under a microscope. In many parts of the world, the palm weevil is considered a pest and can severely damage crops. 4X magnification Photo by Dr Sherif Abdallah Ahmed/Nikon Small World
Image of Distinction
Neuronal axons connect to the muscles of the iris and the cornea of a human eye. 10X magnification Photo by Dr Guillermo Moya/Nikon Small World
Highly commended
Golden bug eggs (Phyllomorpha laciniata) photographed on a sage leaf. 20X magnification. Photo by Jochen Stern/Nikon Small World
Highly commended
A record player needle rests on a scratched vinyl disk. 20X magnification. Photo by Daniel Evrard/Nikon Small World
Highly commended
A transverse section of the rachis (stem) of bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), a very common fern in most parts of the world. 5X magnification. Photo by Dr David Maitland/Nikon Small World
Highly commended
Fluorescent image of Intestinal villi – small, finger-like structures that increase the internal surface area of the intestine. 20X magnification. Photo by Dr Amy Engevik/Nikon Small World
Highly commended
An agatised dinosaur bone. 10X magnification. Photo by Randy Fullbright/Nikon Small World
Early stage of mouse glioblastoma cell differentiation (actin, microtubules, and mitochondria). 100X magnification. Photo by Dr Bruno Cisterna & Dr Eric Vitriol/Nikon Small World
19th place
The seed of a silene plant (a flowering plant) pictured under a microscope. 10X magnification. Photo by Alison Pollack/Nikon Small World
18th place
An insect egg parasitised by a wasp. 10X magnification. Photo by Alison Pollack/Nikon Small World
17th place
The reproductive organs of stonewort algae (Chara virgata). Here we see oogonia (female organs) and antheridia (male organs). 4X magnification. Photo by Dr Frantisek Bednar/Nikon Small World
16th place
Two water fleas (Daphnia sp.) with embryos (left) and eggs (right). 10X magnification. Photo by Marek Miś/Nikon Small World
15th place
Isolated scales of a Madagascan sunset moth wing (Chrysiridia ripheus). 40X magnification. Photo by Sébastien Malo/Nikon Small World
A recrystallised mixture of hydroquinone and myoinositol. 10X magnification. Photo by Marek Miś/Nikon Small World
13th place
The eyes of green crab spider (Diaea dorsata). This species can change its colour to blend in with its surroundings, but it takes several days. 20X magnification. Photo by Paweł Błachowicz/Nikon Small World
12th place
The wing scales of a Ulysses butterfly (Papilio ulysses) on a medical syringe needle. 20X magnification. Photo by Daniel Knop/Nikon Small World
11th place
A slime mould on a rotten twig with water droplets resting on top. 0.7 – 4.5X magnification. Photo by Dr Ferenc Halmos/Nikon Small World
10th place
Spores of black truffle (Tuber melanosporum). The black truffle is one of the most expensive edible fungi in the world. 63X magnification. Photo by Jan Martinek/Nikon Small World
9th place
Pollen caught in the web of a garden spider (Araneus). 20X magnification. Photo by John-Oliver Dum/Nikon Small World
8th place
A neuron densely covered in dendritic spines from the striatum of an adult rat brain. 60X magnification. Photo by Stephanie Huang/Nikon Small World
7th place
A cross-section of European beach grass (Ammophila arenaria) leaf. 10X magnification. Photo by Gerhard Vlcek/Nikon Small World
6th place
A type of slime mould known as Cribraria cancellata (also known as Dictydium cancellatum). 10X magnification. Photo by Henri Koskinen/Nikon Small World
A cross-section of a small intestine of a mouse. 10X magnification. Photo by Dr Amy Engevik/Nikon Small World
3rd place
A leaf of a cannabis plant. The bulbous glands are trichomes which contain cannabinoid vesicles. 20X magnification. Photo by Chris Romaine/Nikon Small World
2nd place
Image stacking for the pin and wire combined with long exposure for the electrical arcs. 10X magnification. Photo by Dr Marcel Clemens/Nikon Small World
An image of differentiated mouse brain tumour cells (actin, microtubules, and nuclei). 40X magnification. Photo by Dr Bruno Cisterna & Dr Eric Vitriol/Nikon Small World
James Cutmore is the picture editor of BBC Science Focus Magazine. He has worked on the magazine and website for over a decade, telling compelling science stories through the use of striking imagery. He holds a degree in Fine Art, and has been nominated for the British Society of Magazine Editors Talent Awards, being highly commended in 2020. His main areas of interest include photography that highlights positive technology and the natural world. For many years he was a judge for the Wellcome Trust's image competition, as well as judging for the Royal Photographic Society.
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