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Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from all of us at Microscope World!

Here is what your pine tree needle looks like under the microscope at 400x magnification!

Cross Section of a Pine Needle under a student  microscope.

Top 10 Gifts for Science Geeks

Shopping for a science geek or a budding genius doesn’t have to be difficult. Whether it’s a gift for the holidays, a birthday, graduation, or a reward for a job well done, here is a list of the top 10 gifts for science geeks to help you give the perfect gift for that special someone on your mind.

• A pair of Freudian Slippers will allow your promising psychoanalyst or psychiatrist a relaxing evening around the house.
• A dinosaur mug that changes behemoths into fossils. Just add a hot beverage to watch fossils form! The dinosaurs reappear as the liquid cools.
• Microscopes make memorable gifts for the science geek and hobbyist in your life. Choose from a variety of microscopes for students, coin collectors, rock hounds and biologists.
• The Science Chef Cookbook contains instructions for 100 edible experiments and recipes that teach kids science basics such as how yeast makes dough rise and what makes popcorn pop. As much fun to learn as it is to eat!
• Grow Crystals, Rocks and Minerals at home with a kit from National Geographic that helps kids learn about rocks and the minerals that form them.
• Funny periodic T-Shirt for boys or girls.
• A Static Electricity Eliminator is a great gift for anyone who is constantly getting zapped due to static. The Eliminator is an especially great gift for computer techs who are constantly rebuilding or repairing computers. 
• A Map of the Universe poster for the astronomer's wall makes a handy reference guide.
• A digital camera adapter turns the average microscope into a digital microscope. Use your point and shoot or digital SLR camera. Many cameras can be adapted.
• Einstein sticky notes add a bit of humor to an everyday list.

Tuberculosis under the Microscope

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria typically attacks the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidneys, spine and even the brain.

Tuberculosis captured at 100x under a biological microscope.

Tuberculosis is spread through the air from one person to another from coughing, sneezing, speaking or singing. People nearby breathe in these bacteria and become infected. Not everyone infected with TB bacteria will become sick however. Tuberculosis bacteria can live in the human body without making a person sick for years.

Tuberculosis captured at 400x under the U2 digital biological microscope.

Treatment of TB uses antibiotics to kill the bacteria. Effective treatment can be difficult due to the unusual structure and chemical composition of the mycobacterial cell wall. This cell wall hinders the entry of drugs and makes many antibiotics ineffective.

The TB images above were captured using the U2 biological microscope and the 5 megapixel CCD microscope camera. The Tuberculosis prepared slide can be purchased, it is part of the Bacteriology Slide Kit.

Why Biologists Prefer Phase Contrast Microscopes

Why would a biologist prefer a phase contrast microscope over a standard brightfield microscope? Here are a few reasons why phase contrast microscopes are preferred by many biologists over a variety of other microscopes available to them.

Cheek cells - phase contrast

Cheek cells - brightfield

The images shown above are both of the exact same slide of human cheek cells. The image shown at left was captured with brightfield and the image at right was captured with phase contrast.

1. A phase contrast microscope allows viewing a clear (transparent) specimen - a living cell - without staining the specimen, which effectively kills it, thereby eliminating the time consuming process of staining the specimen. This is preferred by biologists since living cells can be studied during cell division.
2. Light passing through a clear specimen undergoes phase changes, brightening areas of the specimen that creates a contrast against the darker areas. This contrast of light and dark makes the specimen visible to the human eye. This is important to biologists because the light contrasts with various mechanisms of the specimen, such as the membrane, cilia and flagella, against a lighter/darker background, making them visible under the microscope. Of importance in molecular biology, the phase contrast microscope enables biologists working in such fields as cancer research and developmental biology to distinguish one type of cell from another.
3. Phase contrast microscopes are capable of 50x to 1000x magnification. Such magnification is important to biologists because it allows visibility of activities at the cellular level such as protein motility, autography, cell signaling, and metabolism thereby broadening our understanding of cells.
4. A phase contrast microscope can be used for brightfield, (often darkfield) and phase contrast. Whereas a brightfield microscope can typically only be used for brightfield work.

Differences between a phase contrast microscope and a brightfield microscope.

Bacillus Bacteria under the Microscope

Bacillus is a rod-shaped bacterium. Bacilli are an extremely diverse group of bacteria that include both the causative agent of anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) as well as several species that synthesize important antibiotics. In addition to uses in the medical field, bacillus spores, due to their extreme tolerance to both heat and disinfectants, are used to test heat sterilization techniques and chemical disinfectants.

Bacilli are also used in the detergent manufacturing industry because of their ability to synthesize important enzymes.

Bacillus captured at 100x magnification with U2 digital microscope.

Bacilli are rod-shaped. Each bacterium only creates one spore, which is resistant to heat, cold, radiation, desiccation (extreme dryness), and disinfectants. Baccilli are capable of living in a wide range of habitats, including many extreme habitats such as the desert and the arctic.

Bacillus captured at 400x magnification with 5mp CCD microscope camera.

Bacilli can cause infections ranging from ear infections and meningitis to urinary tract infections. They mainly occur as secondary infections in immunodeficient or compromised hosts. The most well-known disease caused by bacilli is anthrax. Antrax dates back many years, as it is assumed that the fifth and sixth plagues recorded in the Bible were anthrax (the fifth attacking animals and the sixth attacking humans). Anthrax in recent time has been brought into the public eye by being used for  bio-terrorism.

There are three ways humans can contract anthrax: (1) Cutaneous anthrax occurs when contact with spores from dust particles or through an abrasion. (2) Gastrointestinal anthrax is contracted by ingesting contaminated meat. (3) Pulmonary anthrax results after inhaling spores that are transported to the lymph nodes where they multiply.

Bacillus captured at 1000x magnification without use of immersion oil.

Microscope World's bacteriology slide kit contains a Bacillus prepared slide. It can be ordered online here.

Top Measuring Microscope Uses - Measuring Microscope Applications

Have you ever wondered how the inner components of a digital camera or computer could be manufactured with extreme precision? Such precision requires the use of a measuring microscope.

Measuring microscopes are excellent tools used in research and development, tool making, and industrial manufacturing for precision measurements of 2D and 3D parts, angles, shapes, linear dimensions, screw threads, and diameter of objects, including holes that are too small for a measurement probe. Quality control and quality measurement are key steps in the manufacturing process and measuring microscopes are used extensively during this process. Measuring microscopes are also necessary for inspecting a variety of objects such as semiconductors, electronic and electrical components, precision components, resin moldings, and medical products, making it possible to measure specimens that are too soft for contact measurement.

Measuring Microscope Features

Measuring microscopes provide high power magnification and because the reflected light is pumped in through the objective lenses, opaque objects can be viewed. Some measuring microscopes also offer transmitted light from beneath the stage. The stage contains working room for larger objects, and the digimatic indicators allow for making measurements.

Measuring microscopes can measure up to 1/2 of a micrometer. Larger measuring microscopes are suitable for the following applications:

• Length measurement in Cartesian and polar coordinates.
• Angle measurements of tools such as threading tools, punches, and guages.
• Thread measurements such as profiling major and minor diameters, height of lead, thread angle, profile position with respect to the thread axis and the shape of the thread.
• Comparison of centers with drawn patters and drawing of projected profiles.
• Verification of surface finish.
• Measurement of surface defects.
• Measurements of hardness test indentations.

Known for its high magnification and suitability for shop use, measuring microscopes are well built for a variety of applications in the industrial market.

Mushroom Under the Microscope

A mushroom is a fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus. The term mushroom describes a variety of gilled fungi, with or without stems. The gills are seen below in detail (blue).

Photo: Captured in Strouds Run State Park, Athens, Ohio USA by Dan Molter

The terms "mushroom" and "toadstool" go back centuries and were never precisely defined. Toadstool was often a term applied to poisonous mushrooms or to those that have the classic umbrella-like cap and stem form. In German folklore and old fairy tales, toads are often depicted sitting on toadstool mushrooms and catching flies.

Mushroom captured under the U2 biological microscope at 100x magnification.

Microscope images were captured using a 5 megapixel CCD microscope camera.

Mushroom captured under the U2 biological microscope at 400x magnification.

Microscope Holiday Gift Guide

Microscopes make great educational gifts! This guide will help you navigate through Microscope World and end up with a unique gift for your loved ones.

Gifts for Younger Kids (Ages 3-5)

Recommendation: Keep it simple with a low power 20x microscope for viewing insects, flowers, rocks, etc.

MW1-L1 Kids Microscope 20x

Younger kids are often very interested in science, but they can't yet quite wrap their head around cells and biological specimens that can not be seen by the naked eye. However, they do love to look at things they are already familiar with such as flowers, rocks, toys from around the house, a dollar bill, etc. The MW1-L1 microscope provides 20x magnification and needs no light, cord, or batteries for operation. The single eyepiece is perfect for young kids to look through (rather than some binocular microscopes where the eyepieces can be too far apart for young children).

 

Gifts for Elementary School Kids (Age 6-11)

Recommendation: A kids high power microscope with one prepared slide kit provides out of the box viewing and enjoyment.

F1 Kids Microscope

Prepared Slide Kit

Elementary school age kids find it fascinating to look at microscope slides or Protozoans swimming in pond water. It can be a bit tricky for kids of this age to prepare their own slides, so prepared slides are usually the best route when starting off with a high power microscope for Elementary school age students.

HS-1D Digital High School Microscope

Gifts for High School Teenagers

Recommendation: A digital high school microscope allows high school students to document images and save them into reports. Include a box of blank slides and cover slips so they can make their own slides.

High School students will have biology classes and can integrate their microscope into school work. A digital microscope allows them to view live images on the computer and capture and save images. The included software can make measurements as well.

 

Gifts for Hobbyists

Recommendation: A stereo microscope with magnification somewhere between 10x-40x is best for viewing stamps, coins, collections, etc.

Hobby microscopes allow the user to look at small parts or collections. Model railroaders or model builders paint small pieces and glue together parts. Stamp and coin collectors will want to examine dates and defects. Needle-pointers want to view small stitches. All of these hobbyists will do best with magnification somewhere in the range of 10x-40x. A dual power microscope with 10x and 30x is less expensive than a zoom microscope.

S2 Stereo Microscope 10x & 30x

Didn't find what you were looking for? You can view a complete holiday microscope gift guide here. Or call 1-800-942-0528 with any questions.

Human Thyroid Gland

The Thyroid Gland is a butterfly-shaped gland that resides on the lower front of the neck, just below the Adam's apple. When the thyroid is a normal size it can't be felt in the human body. The thyroid is full of blood vessels and its main job is to secrete several hormones called Thyroid Hormones. These act throughout the body to influence metabolism, growth and development, and body temperature.

Image courtesy: Healthline.
Thyroid Gland is highlighted in darker red.

The thyroid gland covers the windpipe from three sides. The thyroid gland produces hormones T3 and T4, which help the body to produce and regulate adrenaline, ephinephrine, and dopamine (all of which are active in brain chemistry). Without a functional thyroid, the human body can not break down proteins or process carbohydrates and vitamins. Thyroid gland problems often lead to weight gain.

Image courtesy: WebMD

The Thyroid gland can not produce hormones on its own. It requires help from the Pituitary gland. The Pituitary gland produces a thyroid stimulating hormone.

Thyroid Gland captured at 100x magnification.

All images of the Thyroid gland were captured at Microscope World using the U2 biological microscope and the DCC5.1P 5 megapixel CCD camera and software.

Thyroid Gland captured at 400x magnification.

The thyroid gland is one of the largest endocrine glands and gets its name from the Greek adjective for "shield shaped" because of its shape relative to the thyroid cartilage.

In the human thyroid gland image above the follicles are labeled with "X". These are the follicles that selectively absorb iodine from the blood for production of thyroid hormones. 25 percent of the body's iodine ions are in the thyroid gland.

The follicular epithelial cells are labeled "Y". The follicles mentioned above are surrounded by a single layer of thyroid epithelial cells which secrete T3 and T4 hormones. When they are not secreting hormones, the epithelial cells range in size from low columnar to cuboidal cells. They are much taller columnar cells when active.

The endothelial cells (very small) are labeled with "Z". These cells are scattered among follicular cells and are found in spaces between spherical follicles. Their primary role is to secrete calcitonin, which acts to reduce blood calcium.

The above image of a human thyroid gland was captured at 1000x magnification. A 100x oil immersion objective was used, however immersion oil was not used when capturing the image (hence the lack of crispness in the image). Whenever using a 100x oil immersion lens, the best microscopy images will always be obtained when using immersion oil. 

• You can learn more about immersion oil here.
• This article provides more information about achieving the best possible resolution from your microscope.

Motor Neurons under the Microscope

Motor neurons are located in the central nervous system and are used to control muscles. Motor neurons carry signals from the spinal cord to the muscles to produce movement. Several categories classify motor neurons.

• Somatic Motor Neurons - These originate in the central nervous system and project their axons to the target tissues, which are always skeletal muscles (involved in locomotion). Somatic motor neurons are involved in muscles that move limbs, abdominal or intercostal muscles.
• Specialized Viceral Motor Neurons - These motor neurons directly innervate branchial muscles, such as gills in fish, muscles in the face and neck in land vertebrates.
• General Visceral Motor Neurons - These neurons directly innervate cardiac muscles and smooth muscles of the arteries.

Motor Nerve captured at 40x magnification.

The above image of a motor neuron was captured using the U2 Laboratory Microscope with a 40x APO Fluor objective lens.

Stereo Microscope versus Biological Microscope

What are the main differences between a stereo microscope and a biological microscope? Read on to find out...

Stereo Microscopes

• Stereo microscopes offer lower magnification (usually somewhere between 5x-50x).
• Stereo microscopes provide more room under the microscope for larger objects (think rocks, flowers, etc.).
• Stereo microscopes have light above the stage, and sometimes also below the stage.

S6 Stereo Zoom Microscope

Biological Microscopes

• Biological microscopes provide higher magnification (40x, 100x, 400x, 1000x).
• Biological microscopes only have room for slides under the microscope (no larger objects can be placed under an upright biological microscope.)
• Biological microscopes have a light beneath the stage, therefore the specimen must allow light to pass it.

U2 Biological Microscope

Animal Breeders and Fecal Analysis

Sheep and goat fecal analysis is an important component for goat farmers with worm and Coccidia infestations. Animal breeders including horses, rabbits, cats, dogs and cattle may also have these same issues. Worm and Coccidia parasites alone kill more goats than all other illnesses combined. A regular established program of microscopic examination of goat "pills" (feces) can help farmers find and treat parasites before they kill many of the animals.

Coccidia captured under a simple biological microscope.

Coccidia is a protozoan parasite. This protozoan causes Coccidiosis, which can be one of the most devastating diseases to livestock, particularly among young kids. Coccidiosis causes watery diarrhea that is sometimes bloody and can be life-threatening to young animals. The presence of Coccidia in the intestines does not mean the animal is actually suffering from Coccidiosis. The protozoans only cause disease when their numbers become so great that damage is caused to the host. The image above is Coccidia during the infective stage. The oocyst contains two sporocysts. 

Coccidia from a cat fecal sample. Photo: Joel Mills

This is a list of some species of Coccidia found in animals:

• Eimeria - found in rabbits, poultry, sheep, horses, swine and goats
• Toxoplasma - found only in cats
• Isospora - found in dogs, cats, primates and swine
• Neospora Canium - found in dogs
• Sarcocystis - found in carnivores

Materials required to test for Coccidia Infestations include:

• Simple biological microscope (400x magnification needed)
• Blank glass slides
• Cover slips
• Cheesecloth
• Test Tubes
• Stir Stick (pick one up next time you get coffee)
• Fecal floatation solution (you can use sugar or salt)
• Test tube holding rack (you can use a styrofoam block with holes punched in it)

Fecal Analysis Procedure:

Mix up the flotation solution (it should be saturated, so you want to dissolve as much solid in the water as it will hold). Saturated salt solution requires a pound of salt in a little under 5 cups of water. Collect fresh feces using a small jar for each animal. Be sure to label with the date, time and animal. Place 3-4 goat pellets into a test tube and pour in just enough flotation solution to cover them. Stir and mix well with the stir stick. Strain with the cheese cloth to remove large particles and pour the strained liquid into a clean test tube. Fill up the test tube with more liquid so it reaches the very top. Place a cover slip over the top of the test tube and wait 30 minutes. Over time the eggs will float up to the top and adhere to the glass plate.

Carefully remove the cover slip and lower it at an angle over a microscope slide with the sample between both pieces of glass. Examine the specimen for worm eggs and Coccidia Oocysts. Start with the lowest magnification (40x) on the microscope and move up to 400x and if you have it, 1000x.

You should be able to identify Coccidia Oocysts, Nematode Eggs and Taperworm eggs. When performing a fecal count a general guide is that a level of about 500 eggs per gram of feces would indicate a next step of worming. If a regular testing system is in place (every 4-8 weeks is ideal) the best indication is when there is a dramatic increase in egg counts.

Stereo Microscope versus Metallurgical Microscope

When do you need a metallurgical microscope versus a stereo microscope? Both of these types of microscopes offer reflected illumination, which means light will shine down from above the object, which makes it possible to view opaque specimens.

S2 Stereo Microscope with an LED Ring Light.

Stereo microscopes will typically offer anywhere from 7x-50x magnification - which is a relatively low magnification. At 40x magnification your field of view is made up of 5mm. If you need to view micron size particles you will need a metallurgical microscope.

Carpet fiber captured at 7x magnification using the EMZ5 Stereo Microscope

Metallurgical microscopes have a light that shines down through the objective lens. Magnification is usually 40x or 50x, 100x, 200x, and 400x or 500x.

BA210 Metallurgical Microscope

Same carpet fibers as seen above, but captured at 200x with a Metallurgical Microscope

If you have a solid object that does not allow light to pass through it, you will need either a stereo microscope or a metallurgical microscope in order to view your specimen in depth. Which microscope you need depends on the size of the particles you wish to view. Keep in mind that more magnification is not always better since it does reduce your overall field of view.

Kids Science: Colored Flowers!

This is a fun and easy kids science project that involves several parts.

Required Items:
6 White Carnations
5 Glasses or Vases
5 Different colors of food coloring
1 Low Power Dissecting Microscope

Step #1

Fill each vase or cup about 1-2 inches full of water and add some food coloring until the water is dark. Once you have five vases filled with colored water, place the stems of five carnations each in a different vase of colored water.

Step #2

Take the final white carnation and look at the petals under the stereo microscope. What do you notice? Draw a picture of the structure of the petal as seen under the microscope.

Photo Courtesy Brigham Young University

Step #3

How long did it take for your flowers to soak up the food coloring into the petals? If you are preparing a presentation for your science class include this information in your report. Take one petal off of each different colored flower and look at it through your microscope. Can you see the route that the flower used to "drink up the water" and how the color seeped into the petals? Unlike humans, flowers do not have kidneys to filter out the food coloring so the petals simply change color when they are placed in colored water. If you would like to share the colored flowers with your class, they will remain colored even once you remove them from the water.

Tips for Achieving the Best Possible Microscope Resolution

Biological microscopes provide high magnification and optimal resolution is key to viewing a high quality image. Follow these tips in order to achieve the best possible resolution from your light microscope.

• Choose microscope objectives with the highest NA and correction.
• Use only aplanatic or achromat substage condensers.
• Use high magnification, corrected oculars consistent with viewing comfort and lighting conditions.
• Use Kohler illumination.
• Employ yellow-green filters, especially with achromat objectives, whenever possible.
• Center the entire optical system and substage condenser.
• Correct for improper coverslip thickness, or use only one of the prescribed thickness.
• Use immersion oil of the proper characteristics and avoid bubble formation on the slide.
• Adjust illumination for optimum used Numerical Aperture (NA) of an objective within its available NA.
• Use high ambient light levels with high microscope illumination levels.
• Maintain a high level of cleanliness of optical elements.
• Recognize optical artifacts and, when possible, adjust conditions to minimize them.
• Know the microscope through practice and manipulation with known test objects.

Want some further info about microscope resolution? You might find these books helpful:

• McLaughlin, Robert, Special Methods in Light Microscopy, Microscope Publications Ltd., 1977.
• Belling, John, The Use of the Microscope, McGraw-Hill, 1930.
• Oliver, C.W., The Intelligent Use of the Microscope, Chemical Publishing Co. Inc., 1953.

Popular High School Dissecting Microscopes

Microscope World recently posted on our most popular high school biology microscopes and in turn were asked about the most popular high school dissecting microscopes. This post is dedicated to high school dissecting microscopes and will break down the benefits and downsides of the different microscope options.

Basic / Cost Effective:

The most popular and cost effective high school dissecting microscope is the MW3-LED1B cordless dual power microscope. This dissecting microscope is popular among high schools because it is simple, it is cordless, and it is affordable (under $300). The microscope has two magnifications, the most popular model sold has 10x and 30x magnification. Eyepieces can be swapped out for alternative magnification. A few downsides of this microscope are the smaller working surface and the inability to raise the head of the microscope higher to increase working space for larger specimens.

MW3-LED1B Dissecting Microscope

The S2-BL microscope is another dual magnification (10x and 30x) dissecting microscope, but on a post stand, which allows the microscope body to be moved up higher on the stand, accommodating larger specimens beneath the microscope. The LED ring light provides a brighter light than the lights that are built into a microscope stand, and the larger base provides more working surface for placing frogs, plants or whatever biology class presents for the lesson plan.

S2-BL Dissecting Microscope

Advanced Dissection:

The S6-BLED10 stereo zoom dissection microscope offers 7x-46x zoom magnification. Rather than two set magnifications, students can view every magnification within a range. Two LED lights can be operated together or separately.

S6-BLED10 Zoom Microscope with 7x - 46x Magnification

Digital Options:

The S2-PLCD digital dissecting microscope is popular in high schools because it can reduce the number of microscopes required in a classroom thanks to the LCD camera. Rather than having a microscope for each student, some schools have a microscope with a tablet camera that allows multiple students to view the specimen without each having to look through the microscope. The Android tablet camera is popular, as it is a regular Android tablet touch screen that attaches to the microscope. The touch screen is easy to use and images can be captured and saved, emailed or included in reports. At under $800, this digital LCD 10x/30x dissecting microscope is attractive for schools that need to stay within a tighter budget.

S2-PLCD Stereo Microscope with Tablet Camera

The S2-TPD dissecting digital microscope is priced under $700 and offers 10x/30x magnification along with a 3mp USB camera that allows projection of images to a monitor or computer. Images can be captured and saved, emailed or placed in reports.

S2-TPD Digital 3mp Stereo Microscope

Laboratory Working Conditions

Setting up the ideal environment in a laboratory for microscope use is a fairly simple process. Follow these guidelines to obtain the best resolution when using your microscope as well as prolong the life of the instrument.

• Don't work in a dimly lit room in order to better "see" microscope images.
• If possible have the lab setup include windows with daylight for ideal image resolution.
• If windows are not available, use overhead lighting in the lab.
• Use a microscope with an illuminator that emits bright light with a color temperature approaching that of "daylight". Neutral filters can be used to control illumination intensity.
• Clean dust off of eyepieces, objectives and condensers. Determine where the dust particles are located by rotating the eyepiece, the objective or the condenser. If the dust is on the particular microscope part, when you rotate it the particle will move in the field of view. 
• Use safe cleaning solvents such as those included in a microscope cleaning kit (do not use alcohol).
• Cover your microscope with a dust cover when not in use.
• Color or density filters should be cleaned and stored in a place where they will not accumulate dust.
• In humid climates the likelihood of dust to stick to optics is higher. If the lab microscope is not going to be utilized for an extended period of time wrap it tightly in plastic to protect it.
• Keep the area around the microscope clear from clutter. It's especially easy to knock items over if you reach for something while looking through the microscope.

Research lab at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab

Fluorescence Microscopy

Fluorescence microscopy is a technique used to study specimens that can be made to fluoresce. Certain specimen materials emit energy detectable as visible light when irradiated with the light of a specific wavelength. The sample might be fluorescing in its natural form, or it can be treated with fluorescing chemicals.

A fluorescence microscope lets excited light radiate the specimen and then sorts out the much weaker emitted light that makes up the image. The fluorescence microscope has a filter that only lets through radiation with the desired wavelength that matches the material that is fluorescing. The radiation collides with the atoms in the specimen and electrons are excited to a higher energy level. As these atoms relax to a lower level, they emit light. In order to become visible, this emitted light is separated from the much brighter excitation light in a second filter. The fluorescing areas can be observed in the microscope and shine out on a dark background with high contrast.

The images below are stained plant tissue that were captured using a fluorescence microscope by Fernan Federici for Cambridge University.

Plant Fluorescing Proteins

Plant Cells Under the Microscope

Plastic Film Under the Microscope

We recently had a customer who needed to view and make measurements of plastic film under the microscope.

The microscope system used to view the plastic film included the SMZ168 stereo zoom microscope and a 2 mega pixel microscope camera.

The mechanical stage on the stereo microscope that allows reflected light to pass through the stage.

Plastic Film captured with transmitted light under the stereo microscope.

Images were captured both with transmitted and reflected light under the stereo microscope. The measurement software included with the microscope camera was used to measure the diameter of the hole in the plastic film.

Plastic Film captured with reflected light under the stereo microscope.

Plant Tissue under the Microscope

A plant is typically made up of four types of tissues:

• Meristematic - Divides new cells for growth or repair.
• Ground Tissue - Provides storage, processing and physical support.
• Dermal Tissue - Protects the plant and aids in nutrient absorption.
• Vascular Tissue - Moves fluids and food and provides physical support.

These images of stained plant tissue were captured using a biological microscope by Fernan Federici for Cambridge University.

 Learn a bit more about plant tissue here.