Grantia under the Microscope

Grantia is a genus of calcareous sponges belonging to the family Grantiidae. Grantias contain spicules and spongin fibers.

Grantia captured under the microscope at 100x.

The Grantia prepared slide is part of the Zoology: Small Organisms prepared slide kit.

Grantia captured under the microscope at 400x.

All images were captured with a biological microscope, using a c-mount adapter and a microscope digital camera.

Grantia captured under the microscope at 400x.

Clam Worm Under the Microscope

Clam worms (Alitta Succinea) are a species of marine annelid, also known as sandworms. Clam worms can be found in the Northwest Atlantic region, the Gulf of Maine and South Africa. A clam worm can grow up to 6 inches in length, but usually they are a bit smaller. An interesting feature of the clam worm is the fact that they have four eyes.

Photo: Hans Hillewaert (Belgian North Sea)

The clam worm is a freeswimming polychaete that scavenges on the bottom of shallow marine waters feeding on other worms and algae. The clam worm itself is a food source for crustaceans and bottom-feeder fish.

Clam worm prepared slide, captured at 40x magnification.

Clam worm captured under the microscope at 100x.

Clam worm captured under microscope at 400x magnification.

All images were capturing using the U2 biological microscope and the DCM5.1 microscope camera with 5 mega pixels.

Closeout Special Microscope SALE!

The National Optical 138 student microscope is on sale for only $190! Limited supply remains and when these microscopes are gone, the sale ends.

138 Student Microscope

Order the National Optical 138 student microscope here.

Science Project: Mold under the Microscope

Mold is a fungus that grows in the form of multi-cellular filaments called hyphae. The best way to examine mold under a microscope is to grow your own in a controlled environment.  Soft bread without preservatives in it is perfect for this experiment. Leave the bread in a warm area, such as on the counter for a day, then place it in a ziplock bag with a small amount of water. Place the bread in a sunny area.

Once your bread is sufficiently moldy, wear a pair of gloves and put either a drop of water or a drop of Methylene blue (a staining agent) on a depression slide. Using a toothpick or a disposable knife, scrape some mold off the bread and place a small amount on the droplet of water. Cover it with a cover slip.

Using a high power student microscope to view the mold, start with the lowest magnification of 40x and work your way up to 400x.

Draw some images of your mold. Does it have a thin branch like structure? When you are finished with your project dispose of the moldy bread and be sure to wash your hands thoroughly.

Mold under microscope, 100x

Mold under microscope, 400x

Hydra Under the Microscope

Hydra is a genus of small, simple fresh-water animals, typically found in fresh-water ponds, lakes and streams in moderate and tropical regions. Hydra are usually a few millimeters long and are best seen under a biological microscope.

Hydra captured at 100x magnification.

Each tentacle of a hydra is layered with highly specialized stinging cells called cnidocytes. The Cnidocytes contain specialized structures called nematocysts that, when contacted with prey, can fire neurotoxins paralyzing the prey.

Hydra tentacles captured at 100x under the microscope.

Hydra do not have a recognizable brain or muscles. The nervous system of Hydra is a nerve net.

Hydra tentacles captured at 400x magnification under the microscope.

Hydra extend their body to maximum length when feeding and slowly extend their tentacles. Upon contact with prey, the nematocysts on the tentacle fire into the prey while the tentacles coil around the prey.

Hydra tentacles connected to body of hydra, 400x under the microscope.

All hydra images were captured using the Richter Optica U2 biological microscope, with a 5mp microscope camera.

Hydra tentacles captured at 100x magnification.

Hydra body captured at 400x magnification under the microscope.

The hydra prepared slide can be purchased as part of the Zoology: Small Organisms prepared slide kit.

Searching for Metal Defects Under Microscope

Viewing metal under the microscope at higher magnification requires either a metallurgical microscope or a macro zoom lens microscope system. A metallurgical microscope is quite a bit more expensive than a macro zoom lens system.

This metal plate needed to be inspected closely for defects. The area inspected under a macro zoom lens microscope was where the "Microscope World" text is located on the image shown above.

Metal captured under the microscope at 15x magnification.

Metal captured at 160x magnification under microscope.

The higher magnification of the zoom lens was required in order to view defects in the metal plate.