Tremolite Under a Polarizing Microscope

Tremolite forms by metamorphism of sediments rich in dolomite and quartz. The fibrous form of tremolite is one of the six recognized types of asbestos. This material is toxic and inhaling the fibers can cause cancer. Fibrous tremolite is sometimes found as a contaminant in vermiculite, chrysotile and talc. Tremolite, similar to most minerals, is best viewed under a polarizing microscope.

Tremolite from Switzerland. Image courtesy: Didier Descouens

All the images below were capturing using the Fein Optic R40POL polarizing microscope with transmitted light.

Tremolite using the 1/4 wave plate under the polarizing microscope, 100x.

Tremolite using the polarizer and analyzer under the polarizing microscope, 100x.

Tremolite using the full wave plate under the polarizing microscope, 100x.

Tremolite under the polarizing microscope, 100x.

Tremolite using the 1/4 wave plate under the polarizing microscope, 100x.

Tremolite under a brightfield microscope, 100x (no polarization).

Notice the stark difference between images where polarization was utilized, and the bottom image where only brightfield microscopy was used.

Semen Microscope

A semen microscope or sperm microscope is used to identify and count sperm. These microscopes are used when breeding animals or for examining human fertility. You can view sperm at 400x magnification. You do NOT want a microscope that advertises anything above 1000x, it is just empty magnification and is unnecessary.

In order to examine semen with the microscope you will need depression slides, cover slips, and a biological microscope. Below are a few recommend semen microscopes. If you have any questions regarding examining sperm under the microscope feel free to contact Microscope World. Below are a few recommended semen microscopes.

Basic Semen Microscope

Basic Sperm Microscope

The HS-1M is a basic sperm microscope that goes up to 400x magnification. The LED light is cool and will not heat up or kill any living sperm (in case you wish to view mobility). Coarse and fine focusing make it easy to focus on a crisp and clear image. And the price is affordable!

Intermediate Sperm Microscope

Intermediate Semen Microscope

The UX-1 intermediate semen microscope goes up to 1000x magnification and has Plan Achromat
Objective lenses, offering a crisp fully flat image. Binocular eyepieces make it more comfortable for viewing and eliminate the need to close one eye when looking through the microscope. A mechanical stage makes it easy to maneuver the slide both forward and backward as well as left to right. The microscope has a cool LED light and can be used cordless or plugged in. Both coarse and fine focusing make it easy to focus in on the sperm.

Advanced Semen Microscope

Advanced Semen Microscope

The U2 advanced sperm microscope offers high quality Infinity Corrected Plan Achromat objectives. Magnification of 40x, 100x, 400x and 1000x provides plenty of options for viewing the semen. Binocular viewing head makes the microscope comfortable for extended viewing. Mechanical stage provides ease of slide maneuverability and both coarse and fine focusing make it simple to acquire a crisp and clear image of the sperm. The LED light is cool and lasts a long time.

Diatoms & Vorticella in Standing Water

This water sample was collected from some stagnant pool water and placed under the U2 biological microscope for examination. Notice the diatom and the vorticella on the edge of the algae.

Water from a stagnant pool captured at 400x magnification under the microscope.

Swift M10T-MCS Microscopes

Swift Optical has replaced the M10LB microscope with the previously small LCD screen with the new and improved Swift M10T-MCS microscopes. The former small 3" screen has been replaced with a 7" LCD screen.

Swift M10T-MCS tablet microscope.

The Swift M10T-MCS is available with semi-plan or plan achromat objectives. There is also a phase contrast version of this microscope - Swift M10T-MCS-MP available.

Some new features of the Swift tablet microscope include:

• 7" LCD display
• WiFi, mini HDMI and micro SD card connections
• 5 mega pixel camera
• Includes Motic Images software for editing and measuring images.
• Android operating system.
• WiFi supporting both hot-spot mode or using an existing WiFi network.
• Share real-time images with multiple mobile devices.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Microscope World!

Nerve Fiber Bundles Under the Microscope

These images of nerve fiber bundles were captured under a biological microscope using a 3 megapixel microscope camera.

Nerve fibers in bundles captured under a biological microscope at 40x.

Nerve fibers in bundles captured under a biological microscope at 100x.

Nerve fibers in bundles captured under a biological microscope at 400x.

The nerve fibers prepared slide is part of the Histology Microscope Prepared Slide Kit.

Geologist Microscopes

Geology microscopes use polarizing light to examine thin sections of rock. Geologist are looking at the components and features of the rocks along with composition. They take into consideration how the rock was formed and the geological setting of the rock.

R40POL Geology Microscope

Geology microscopes are also referred to as petrographic microscopes or polarizing microscopes. These are a few of the features that make up a geologist microscope:

• Polarizing filter in the light path.
• Analyzer in the light path between the objective & the eyepiece (works with the polarizer).
• Circular rotating stage with vernier scales for reading orientations.
• Bertrand lens allows viewing of conscopic interference patterns.
• Waveplate to alter the polarization state of the light traveling through it.

Image captured at 200x under a geologist microscope.

If you have any questions about geology microscopes, feel free to contact Microscope World.

Human Anatomy under the Microscope

In the human body, the pituitary gland is the size of a pea. It is found at the base of the brain. Hormones are secreted from the pituitary gland that help control growth, blood pressure, functions of sex organs, thyroid glands and metabolism as well as some aspects of pregnancy, childbirth, nursing and even temperature regulation and pain relief! For something the size of the pea - it has a lot of important functions!

This is what the pituitary gland looks like under a compound microscope.

Pituitary gland under the microscope at 40x magnification.

Pituitary gland under the microscope at 100x magnification.

Pituitary gland under the microscope at 400x magnification.

The pituitary gland prepared slide is part of the Histology Prepared Slide Kit from Microscope World.

Stereo Microscope Images

Microscope World just received a new 10 megapixel microscope camera to test out. These are some photos that were captured using the microscopy camera on the S2 dual power stereo microscope.

Printed Circuit Board under the microscope at 10x.

Circuit under the microscope at 10x.

Penny under the microscope at 10x.

Printed Card Stock under the microscope at 10x.

Printed Circuit Board under the microscope at 30x.

Industrial Part under the microscope at 30x.

SD Memory Card under the microscope at 10x.