Cheek Cells under Phase Contrast Microscope

Phase contrast microscopes are used to examine specimens that are the same color as their background and need a bit of "pop" in order to differentiate them. Samples where staining is not an option (or might kill the specimen) often utilize phase contrast.

Cheek cells captured at 100x under a phase contrast microscope.

In the image above you may notice a few blue highlights around several of the cheek cells. These are actually air bubbles that were caught between the microscope slide and the cover slip when the sample was prepared.

You can learn more about phase contrast here.

Muskie Fish under the Microscope

The muskellunge (muskie) is a relatively uncommon freshwater fish native to North America. The muskellunge is the largest member of the pike family, Esocidae. Muskie fish are found in lakes and large rivers in the Great Lakes region of North America including Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and into Canada.

Microscope World's customer, The Youth Conservation Alliance, is a 100 percent youth focused charity that teaches children about the environment, through the sport of Muskie fishing.

The image below was taken from a recent Muskie stocking venture between the Youth Conservation Alliance and the Department of Natural Resources in Wisconsin. The Muskie fish were stocked in Round Lake in northern Wisconsin.

Muskie Fish in Round Lake, Wisconsin

Muskie fish scales are similar to that of a tree and the fish can be aged by counting the larger rings. The image below of a muskie fish was captured under the Motic BA310 biological microscope at 600x using a microscopy camera. This fish is estimated to be six or seven years old.

Muskie fish scale captured at 600x under a biological lab microscope.

Below are the fish gills of a healthy muskie fish captured at 1000x magnification.

Healthy muskie fish gills under the microscope at 1000x.

Below are the fish gills of an unhealthy fish that was near death, also captured at 1000x magnification. Notice the blood clotting in the gills. The sickness of this particular muskie fish was unknown.

Unhealthy muskie fish gills with blood clotting under the microscope at 1000x.

Below is a photo of a parasite that had embedded itself into the soft tissue of the fish gill where it was eating away at the blood cells.

Parasite embedded into the soft tissue of the fish gill under the microscope.

All images courtesy of the Youth Conservation Alliance were captured during youth muskie research projects onsite at the State Fish Hatcheries while the children were participating.

Learn more about the Youth Conservation Alliance here and learn more about the Microscope World microscopes used in their projects here.

Artery under the Microscope

Arteries are blood vessels that deliver oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the tissues of the body. Each artery is a muscular tube lined with smooth tissue that has three layers:

1. The intima is the inner layer lined by a smooth tissue called endothelium.
2. The media is a layer of muscle that lets arteries handle the high pressures from the heart.
3. The adventitia is a connective tissue anchoring arteries to nearby tissue.

The largest artery in the human body is the aorta, the main high-pressure pipeline connected to the heart's left ventricle. The aorta branches into a network of smaller arteries that extend throughout the body. The arteries' smaller branches are referred to as arterioles and capillaries. The pulmonary arteries carry oxygen-poor blood from the heart to the lungs under low pressure, making these arteries unique.

The images below were captured using the Richter Optica RB20D digital microscope with a 5 megapixel microscopy camera.

Microscopy image of artery, vein and nerve c.s. captured with RB20D microscope at 40x.

Microscopy image of artery, vein and nerve c.s. captured with RB20D microscope at 100x.

Microscopy image of artery, vein and nerve c.s. captured with RB20D microscope at 400x.

Contact Microscope World with questions about microscopes or objectives.

High Resolution Stereo Zoom HD Digital LCD Microscope

Microscope World is proud to introduce a new high resolution stereo zoom high definition (HD) digital microscope with LCD monitor. The FZ6-BBSQ-HD stereo microscope system was created specifically with quality control and industrial soldering work in mind. The high definition camera paired with the 1080p LCD monitor relieves eye strain caused by hours looking through the microscope at small parts or while soldering.

The high resolution stereo zoom microscope system has been designed with a large working distance of 100mm to allow room for working under the microscope. An extension post for the boom stand provides extra room for larger parts under the microscope.

A four-quadrant LED ring light as well as a polarizing filter eliminates glare when viewing metal parts. Zoom magnification of 3.4x - 90x allows for a wide range of magnification options.

The HD camera provides high definition quality resolution with a high speed frame rate of 30 frames per second at full resolution, eliminating jumpy movements under the microscope. Additionally, an SD card can be used to capture and save images quickly. The 13" monitor provides a large and clear image.

For more information on stereo zoom HD microscope systems contact Microscope World.

Toothbrush Under the Microscope

Microscope World has a customer that manufactures toothbrushes and needed to view the bristles for quality control purposes. The images below were captured using the Stereo Microscope along with a LED ring light  and a HD microscope camera.

Toothbrush captured under the stereo microscope at 8x.

Toothbrush captured under the stereo microscope at 10x.

Toothbrush captured under the stereo microscope at 20x.

Toothbrush captured under the stereo microscope at 25x.

Toothbrush captured under the stereo microscope at 40x.

Toothbrush captured under the stereo microscope at 50x.

For more information about microscopes contact Microscope World.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever under the Microscope

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii and transmitted by a tick. Without prompt medical treatment it can cause serious damage to internal organs such as the heart and kidneys.

Early signs and symptoms include high fever and severe headache. A few days later, a scratchy and red rash usually appears on the wrists and ankles and spreads in all directions from there. Some people do not develop a rash, which makes diagnosing the disease difficult. Other symptoms may include muscle aches, chills, nausea and vomiting, restlessness and insomnia. There are times when symptoms do not show up until two weeks after infection.

The infection usually responds well to prompt treatment with antibiotics. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever was first identified in the Rocky Mountains, but can also be found in parts of Canada, Mexico, as well as South and Central America.

The images below of human skin infected with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever were captured using the RB30 biological microscope along with a USB microscopy camera.

Skin infected with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever under the microscope at 40x.

Skin infected with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever under the microscope at 100x.

Skin infected with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever under the microscope at 400x.

Skin infected with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever under the microscope at 400x using a Plan Fluor Objective.

View more information about Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever at the Centers for Disease Control. Contact Microscope World for questions regarding microscopes and microscopy accessories.

Best Compact Stereo Zoom Dissecting Microscope

With a wide zoom range of 10x - 67x, the Richter Optica S6-DL15 provides a variety of magnifications for viewing rocks, insects, small parts or just about any other dissecting item. The stand has a compact footprint, designed specifically with schools in mind for placement in storage cabinets. With built-in reflected and transmitted LED illumination, there is plenty of light provided and dual rheostat controls allow for precise lighting control.

Richter Optica S6-DL15 Stereo Zoom Microscope with 10x-67x

The Richter Optica S6-DL stereo microscope provides options for increasing / decreasing magnification including 10x, 15x and 20x eyepieces as well as a 0.5x and 1.5x auxiliary lens. View complete microscope magnification chart options here.

The S6-DL is a popular high school dissecting microscope choice due to it's compact size.

Contact Microscope World with any questions regarding stereo zoom microscopes.

Human Nonpigmented Skin under the Microscope

Pigmentation refers to coloring, and skin pigmentation disorders affect the color of the skin. Human skin gets its coloring from a pigment called melanin, which is produced by cells in the skin. When these melanin-producing cells become damaged or unhealthy, the production of melanin is affected as well. Some pigmentation disorders affect not only patches of skin, but also the entire body.

Human nonpigmented skin under the microscope at 40x.

If the body produces too little melanin, the skin gets lighter. Vitiligo is a condition where the skin gets lighter in patches. Albinism is a genetic condition where the skin is affected by little or no melanin production. The skin might have no color (nonpigmented skin), or it may be lighter than the normal colored skin. It can also show up as patches of skin with no color.

Human nonpigmented skin under the microscope at 100x.

Another cause of nonpigmented skin can be a result of blisters or burns. These often result in skin becoming nonpigmented after it heals.

Human nonpigmented skin under the microscope at 400x.

When the human body produces too much melanin, the skin becomes darker. Addison's disease, sun exposure and pregnancy can also cause the skin to become darker.

Human nonpigmented skin under the microscope at 400x using a Plan Fluor Objective Lens.

All images above were captured using the RB30 lab microscope. Images were captured to a SD card using the HDCAM7 HD microscopy camera.

Digital Zoom Measuring Microscope

Microscope World offers the DX56P Zoom Measuring Digital Microscope. This measuring microscope provides on-screen magnification of 15x - 154x. Digimatic indicators provide precise measuring capability. The USB camera is available with either 2 or 8 megapixels and the LCD 13" monitor is available in HD or UHD 4k.

Digital Zoom Measuring Microscope

Digimatic Indicators on Measuring Microscope Stage

You can view more measuring microscope systems with a variety of different cameras here, or contact Microscope World for further information or a quote.