{"id":34979,"date":"2023-10-17T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-17T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/1b24ab93-cb92-43d4-b830-e49c01db8ef2"},"modified":"2023-10-17T17:46:20","modified_gmt":"2023-10-17T15:46:20","slug":"the-25-most-jaw-dropping-images-from-nikons-small-world-2023-microphotography-contest","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/the-25-most-jaw-dropping-images-from-nikons-small-world-2023-microphotography-contest\/","title":{"rendered":"The 25 most jaw-dropping images from Nikon\u2019s Small World 2023 microphotography contest"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"rssexcerpt\">Take a very close look at alien spiders, teeny cuckoo wasps, pork parasites and caffeine crystals. <\/p><p class=\"rssauthor\">By James Cutmore\n      <\/p><p class=\"rssbyline\">Published: Tuesday, 17 October 2023 at 14:00 PM<\/p><hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><p>The winners of the most prestigious prize in science imaging have just been announced, with an incredible image of an optic nerve of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/nature\/rat-facts-science\">rat<\/a> taking the title.<\/p><p>The image, which was taken by Hassanain Qambari and assisted by Jayden Dickson of the Lions Eye Institute, provides an important contribution to the <a href=\"https:\/\/research-repository.uwa.edu.au\/en\/datasets\/quantitative-study-of-spatial-and-temporal-variation-in-retinal-c-3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">study of diabetic retinopathy<\/a>, an eye disease which affects one in five persons with diabetes worldwide.<\/p><p>Diabetic retinopathy occurs when high blood sugar damages the blood vessels in the tissue at the back of the eye, known as the retina. The damaged blood vessels can swell and leak, which causes blurry vision and total loss of eyesight in some cases. Since 2021, Qambari has devoted his time and research to the early detection and reversal of the disease.<\/p><p>Second place was awarded to <a href=\"https:\/\/macrofying.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ole Bielfeldt<\/a> for his dramatic image of a matchstick igniting by the friction surface of the box. The image was taken within one eight-thousands of a second and is made up of multiple images.<\/p><p>Third place<strong> <\/strong>was awarded to <a href=\"https:\/\/artofpoland.pl\/malgorzata-lisowska\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Malgorzata Lisowska<\/a> for her image of breast cancer cells.<\/p><p>Now in its 49th year, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nikonsmallworld.com\/galleries\/photomicrography-competition\">Nikon Small World<\/a> is open to anyone with an interest in photography or video. It is renowned for celebrating photographic and artistic excellence in photomicrography.<\/p><h2 id=\"h-image-of-distinction\">Image of Distinction<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rutilated quartz like the one pictured is a variety of quartz which contains needle-like inclusions. Photo by Danny Sanchez\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2 id=\"h-image-of-distinction-1\">Image of Distinction<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2024\/10\/iod-Crab-Spider-1024x819.jpg?fit=800,640\" alt=\"yellow spider face\" class=\"wp-image-173509\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A crab spider (Thomisus onustus) photographed at 6.3X magnification. Photo by S\u00e9bastien Malo\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2 id=\"h-image-of-distinction-2\">Image of Distinction<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2024\/10\/iod-Bee-Mites-1-1024x683.jpg?fit=800,534\" alt=\"Mites on bee leg\" class=\"wp-image-173490\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Phoretic mites on the leg of a bumblebee, photographed at 3X magnification. Phoresy is an interaction in which a creature such as a mite attaches itself to a host animal for the purpose of travel. Photo by Amir Maqbool\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2 id=\"h-honourable-mention\">Honourable mention<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2024\/10\/hm-parasitic-worm-1024x683.jpg?fit=800,534\" alt=\"Worm in red meat\" class=\"wp-image-173500\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Trichinella, as seen within pork tissue. Trichinella is a parasitic worm known to cause trichinosis, which can cause severe symptoms in the human digestive system if the meat is not cooked properly. Photo by Dr Nathan P Myhrvold\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Honourable mention<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2024\/10\/hm-cellar-spider-1024x689.jpg?fit=800,538\" alt=\"Spider with alien face\" class=\"wp-image-173483\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The underside of cellar spider (Pholcus phalangioides) at 10X magnification. Photo by Dr Andrew M Posselt\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Top 20<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2024\/10\/20th-transgenic-zebrafish-1024x887.jpg?fit=800,693\" alt=\"zebrafish head \" class=\"wp-image-173482\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An adult transgenic zebrafish head showing blood vessels in blue, lymphatic vessels in yellow, and the skin and scales in magenta. Photo by Daniel Castranova &amp; Dr Brant Weinstein\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Top 20<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2024\/10\/19th-peace-lily-1024x666.jpg?fit=800,520\" alt=\"close up peace lily\" class=\"wp-image-173480\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A stomata in a peace lily (Spathiphyllum sp.) leaf epidermis. Photo by Marek Mi\u015b\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Top 20<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2024\/10\/18th-micrometeorite-1024x666.jpg?fit=800,520\" alt=\"tiny black ball on brown net\" class=\"wp-image-173473\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A cryptocrystalline micrometeorite resting on a testing sieve. Photo by Scott Peterson\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Top 20<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2024\/10\/17th-moon-moth-1024x768.jpg?fit=800,600\" alt=\"colourful wing scales moth\" class=\"wp-image-173462\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Chinese moon moth (Actias ningpoana) wing scales at 20X magnification. Photo by Yuan Ji\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Top 20<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2024\/10\/16th-Carbon-nanotubes-1024x1024.jpg?fit=800,800\" alt=\"black and white small tubes\" class=\"wp-image-173453\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Carbon nanotubes photographed at 30X magnification. Photo by Dr Diego Garc\u00eda\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Top 20<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2024\/10\/15th-Coral-1024x657.jpg?fit=800,513\" alt=\"Stony Coral\" class=\"wp-image-173450\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fluorescent image of a stony coral (Acropora sp.) showing individual polyps with symbiotic zooxanthellae. Photo by Dr Pichaya Lertvilai\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Top 20<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2024\/10\/14th-Sunflower-pollen-939x1024.jpg?fit=800,872\" alt=\"Sunflower pollen\" class=\"wp-image-173445\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sunflower pollen on an acupuncture needle, photographed at 40X magnification. Photo by John-Oliver Dum\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Top 20<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2024\/10\/13th-Mouse-Blood-1024x836.jpg?fit=800,653\" alt=\"blood vessels\" class=\"wp-image-173440\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Blood and lymphatic vasculatures in the ear skin of an adult mouse. Photo by Satu Paavonsalo &amp; Dr Sinem Karaman\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Top 20<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2024\/10\/12th-Cuckoo-wasp-683x1024.jpg?fit=683,1024\" alt=\"wasp on purple flower\" class=\"wp-image-173430\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A cuckoo wasp (Chrysididae) standing on a flower in Tanta, Egypt. This species in known for bright colours, and lay their eggs in the nests of unrelated species. Photo by Sherif Abdallah Ahmed\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Top 20<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2024\/10\/11th-sugar-syrup-700x1024.jpg?fit=700,1024\" alt=\"waves of sugar\" class=\"wp-image-173428\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Crystallised sugar syrup imaged at 25X magnification. Photo by Dr Diego Garc\u00eda\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Top 10<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2024\/10\/10th-Motor-neurons-1024x401.jpg?fit=800,313\" alt=\"green nerve cells\" class=\"wp-image-173416\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Motor neurons grown in a microfluidic device for the separation of cell bodies (top) and axons (bottom). The green lines are microtubules. Photo by Melinda Beccari &amp; Dr Don W Cleveland\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Top 10<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2024\/10\/9th-myoblast-1024x1024.jpg?fit=800,800\" alt=\"green Myoblast\" class=\"wp-image-173410\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cytoskeleton of a dividing myoblast showing tubulin (cyan), F-actin (orange) and nucleus (magenta). Photo by Vaibhav Deshmukh\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Top 10<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2024\/10\/8th-Caffeine-crystals-1024x725.jpg?fit=800,566\" alt=\"Caffeine Crystals\" class=\"wp-image-173406\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Polarised light image of caffeine crystals at 25X magnification. Photo by Stefan Eberhard\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Top 10<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2023\/10\/7th-Mouse-embryo-811x1024.jpg?fit=800,1010\" alt=\"Mouse embryo\" class=\"wp-image-173400\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A mouse embryo imaged at 4X magnification. Photo by Dr Grigorii Timin &amp; Dr Michel Milinkovitch\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Top 10<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2023\/10\/6th-Slime-mold-742x1024.jpg?fit=742,1024\" alt=\"Red slime moulds\" class=\"wp-image-173397\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A slime mould (Comatricha nigra) showing capillitial fibers through its translucent peridium. Taken at 10X magnification. Photo by Timothy Boomer\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><p><strong>Read more about slime moulds:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/nature\/vive-le-blob-the-amazing-abilities-of-slime-moulds\">The amazing abilities of slime moulds<\/a><\/li><\/ul><h2>Top 10<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2023\/10\/5th-defensive-hairs-1024x683.jpg?fit=800,534\" alt=\"bright coloured leaf hairs\" class=\"wp-image-173390\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Auto-fluorescing defensive hairs covering the leaf surface of a wild olive tree (Eleagnus angustifolia) exposed to UV light. Photo by Dr. David Maitland\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Top 10<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2023\/10\/4th-fangs-tarantula-896x1024.jpg?fit=800,914\" alt=\"Fang of tarantula\" class=\"wp-image-173387\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Venomous fangs of a small tarantula at 10X magnification. Photo by John-Oliver Dum\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Third place<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2023\/10\/3rd-Breast-Cancer-cells-1024x683.jpg?fit=800,534\" alt=\"Pink cell shaped like a love heart\" class=\"wp-image-173376\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Brightfield image of breast cancer cells at 40X magnification. Photo by Malgorzata Lisowska\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Second place<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2023\/10\/2nd-Match-Strike-811x1024.jpg?fit=800,1010\" alt=\"close up of match igniting\" class=\"wp-image-173373\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Brightfield image of a matchstick igniting by the friction surface of the box at 2.5X magnification. Photo by Ole Bielfeldt\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Overall winner<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2023\/10\/1st-Rodent-optic-nerve-1024x1024.jpg?fit=800,800\" alt=\"optic Nerves \" class=\"wp-image-173372\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rodent optic nerve head showing astrocytes (yellow), contractile proteins (red) and retinal vasculature (green). Photo by Hassanain Qambari &amp; Jayden Dickson\/Nikon Small World<\/figcaption><\/figure><p><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/science\/photography-of-a-hidden-world\">10 stunning images of nature&#8217;s hidden wonders<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/news\/little-wonders-nikon-small-world-winners\">Little wonders from the 2022 Nikon Small World Competition<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/news\/bizarre-orange-fungus-wins-image-competition\">Bizarre invasive fungus image wins photography competition<\/a><\/li><\/ul> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Take a very close look at alien spiders, teeny cuckoo wasps, pork parasites and caffeine crystals. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":34980,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"6"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2023\/10\/the-25-most-jaw-dropping-images-from-nikons-small-world-2023-microphotography-contest.jpg",1200,1200,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2023\/10\/the-25-most-jaw-dropping-images-from-nikons-small-world-2023-microphotography-contest-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2023\/10\/the-25-most-jaw-dropping-images-from-nikons-small-world-2023-microphotography-contest-300x300.jpg",300,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2023\/10\/the-25-most-jaw-dropping-images-from-nikons-small-world-2023-microphotography-contest-768x768.jpg",768,768,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2023\/10\/the-25-most-jaw-dropping-images-from-nikons-small-world-2023-microphotography-contest-1024x1024.jpg",800,800,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2023\/10\/the-25-most-jaw-dropping-images-from-nikons-small-world-2023-microphotography-contest.jpg",1200,1200,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2023\/10\/the-25-most-jaw-dropping-images-from-nikons-small-world-2023-microphotography-contest.jpg",1200,1200,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Take a very close look at alien spiders, teeny cuckoo wasps, pork parasites and caffeine crystals.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/34979"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34979"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34979"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}