Nikon has unveiled the winners of the 2020 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition: our annual opportunity to witness the most beautiful images that straddle the intersection of stunning photography and groundbreaking science.
Top prize this year went to Daniel Castranova, assisted by Bakary Samasa, who were working in Dr. Brant Weinstein’s lab at the National Institutes of Health. Castranova captured what is described as an “artfully rendered and technically immaculate photo” of a young zebrafish with a fluorescent tags for the skeleton, scales, and lymphatic system.
The image was created by stacking and stitching over 350 individual images that were captured with a spinning disc confocal microscope, and it actually represents a scientific discovery. The image reveals lymphatic vessels in the fish’s skull—a feature that was previously thought to occur only in mammals.
Of course, you don’t have to know any of that to see that it’s also gorgeous:
“For 46 years, the goal of the Nikon Small World competition has been to share microscopic imagery that visually blends art and science for the general public,” said Nikon Instruments Communications Manager Eric Flem. “As imaging techniques and technologies become more advanced, we are proud to showcase imagery that this blend of research, creativity, imaging technology and expertise can bring to scientific discovery. This year’s first place winner is a stunning example.”
Second place went to Daniel Knop for an image of the embryonic development of a clownfish.
This 5 image side-by-side composite was created by lining up stacked photos that were taken on days 1, 3 (morning and evening), 5, and 9 of the fish embryo’s development—an impressive achievement given that his subject was alive, and refused to sit still no matter how nicely Knop asked.
Third place was awarded to Dr. Igor Siwanowicz, who has actually placed in the Nikon Small World competition 17 times, including 1st place in 2011 and 2nd place in 2019. His photo of the tongue of a freshwater snail is another technicolor marvel made possible by confocal microscopy:
Nikon recognized a total of 88 images this year—split into a Top 20, honorable mentions, and images of distinction. Scroll down to see the remaining images that made it into this year’s top 20, and then head over to the Nikon Small World competition website to explore the whole batch.
4th Place
Multi-nucleate spores and hyphae of a soil fungus (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus)
5th Place
Bogong moth
6th Place
Hebe plant anther with pollen
7th Place
Microtubules (orange) inside a cell. Nucleus is shown in cyan.
8th Place
Chameleon embryo (autofluorescence)
9th Place
Connections between hippocampal neurons (brain cells)
10th Place
Daphnia magna (Phyllopoda)
11th Place
Red algae
12th Place
Human hair
13th Place
Crystals formed after heating an ethanol and water solution containing L-glutamine and beta-alanine
14th Place
Leaf roller weevil (Byctiscus betulae) lateral view
15th Place
Chain of daughter individuals from the asexually reproducing annelid species Chaetogaster diaphanus
16th Place
Nylon stockings
17th Place
Ventral view of an immature water boatman
18th Place
Atlas moth wing
19th Place
Silica cell wall of the marine diatom Arachnoidiscus sp.
20th Place
Skeleton preparation of a short-tailed fruit bat embryo (Carollia perspicillata)
Image credits: All photos credited individually, used courtesy of the Nikon Small World Photomicroscopy Competition.
Author: DL Cade
Source: Petapixel
