Amateur Microscopy

It's movie time!

2006-02-03T13:37:00.000-08:00

The answer to yesterday's mystery image was: dust.

Neil, to answer your question, I would love to put out a book. Anyone know anyone who publishes that sort of thing? I have a proposal ready to go.

Vanessa, the oatmeal is an actual type of oatmeal which is cut into pieces instead of rolled and cooked like the quaker oats type. You can get McCann's Steel-Cut Oatmeal at Trader Joe's. It takes longer to make than Quaker Oatmeal but it's worth the wait.

Now, today we are doing something a little bit unusual. The QX3+ Microscope also has a video capability and I thought I'd take some movies of some of the little critters living at the bottom of my aquarium. They usually move too fast for a still picture or don't look very interesting unless they're moving, so I decided to take some (very small) videos of them. All of the videos are under AVIs which are less than 1 megabyte to download. After researching various video hosting sites, I decided to just put them on my own webspace.

Apologies if any of these are misidentified. This is from memory and guesswork. All movies are at 200x.

(if you are having trouble viewing the video in your browser, right click on the link and save it to your computer first)

Paramecium

Cyclops 1

Cyclops 2

Cyclops 3

Protozoan

Here's the mystery pic at 60x. I have to take the weekend off. Back on monday!

Grab Bag

2006-02-02T17:17:00.000-08:00

Guess people didn't like yesterday's multiple choice. For those interested, the answers are: 1) Sucralose (Splenda), 2) Aspartame (Nutrasweet) and 3) Saccharin (Sweet & Low)

Today's pictures:

The head of a pin at 200x. You can see the reflection of my finger in the metal.

A piece of steel cut oatmeal which apparently took a small sliver of the steel along for the ride. 60x.

Baking powder at 200x

An undeveloped grape still on the stem at 60x

What is today's 60x mystery image? Guesses in the comments.

Semi-sweet

2006-02-01T14:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday's mystery image was a used Gillette M3power razor cartridge at 200x. Here are two other views at 60x.

Today's mystery picture is actually going to be mystery pictures. Below are three different common sugar substitutes, ones you would find in any store or restaurant. All three are 200x. Your job is to guess which image (call them 1, 2 and 3 starting at the top) corresponds to which artificial sweetener.

Chip

2006-01-31T16:51:00.000-08:00

No guesses yesterday? The answer was that it was the center underside of an AMD Athlon Microprocessor loaned to me by my friend Marc.

Here are several more 60x pictures of it.

Today's mystery image is at 200x. What is it? Guesses in the comments.

Seeds

2006-01-30T16:02:00.000-08:00

I got two packages of seeds- marigolds and dill. The marigolds were far more interesting so I'll be featuring them.

The answer to yesterday's mystery image was: The skin of a red grape.

xiojason sent me an e-mail saying that he has a few microscopy pictures of his own. Go over to his website and check them out. I especially like the white velour.

Dill seed at 60x

Marigold seed at 60x (top), seed fringe at 60x and 200x.

Marigold seed fluorescing at 200x and 60x.

What is today's 60x mystery image?

Double Double Sawbuck

2006-01-29T15:53:00.000-08:00

Sorry about not posting yesterday. I went out for dim sum with friends and never quite ended up making it back home for the day's posting until it was very late. Anyway, today we continue our exploration of the $20 bill, but before we go on with the photos, I'd like to welcome anyone coming from Science Chat Forum who we may be partnering up with here on the mystery picture of the day so it will be featured there as well. I highly recommend their forums for anyone interested in talking and learning about science.

Now, no one got yesterday's mystery picture right, although the suggestion of booger was on the right track. Those of you who have gone to my website and seen my headshot know that I keep my head shaved, so I couldn't provide a human hair (my wife may be willing to donate) to show you yet. However, I do have some dandruff up on the top of my dome. That is a flake of it.

And now, back to the $20 bill. Apparently, a friend with a 2003 bill tells me that they have already changed some features on it so that it does not match what I have put up on the site! The government is actually changing small designs on the bills each year to help stop counterfieting.

The $20 bill has a hologram in the lower right hand corner. The number 20 changes its color depending on the angle at which you hold it. This is what it looks like at 60x.

This is the strip that is inside the bill, another anti-copying device. You also get a very good look at the unique red and blue fibres which are in the paper. This style can only (legally) be found in American paper money.

Today's mystery image is at 200x. Guess away in the comments. Also, please keep suggestions coming!

Half a Double Sawbuck

2006-01-27T17:20:00.000-08:00

Those of you who guessed money were absolutely right. It is the first picture in my 2-part 60x exploration of a 2001 U.S. $20 bill. See if you can find the corresponding parts of the bill based on the images below.

Part 2 will come tomorrow. Here is today's mystery picture at 200x

Microscopy Unbound

2006-01-26T17:00:00.000-08:00

Only one guess yesterday, from my wife. Have you all stopped coming? I hope not because tomorrow should be lots of fun as you will see when we get there.

In the mean time, the answer to yesterday's mystery picture is: a piece of a page from a paperback book (minus the printing of course) which will lead into today's theme, the paperback book.

This is an old paperback, Not the Glory by Pierre Boulle published in 1962. My father bought it to read while he was here at a used bookstore for $2 and I have torn it apart in the interests of science.

There is a color illustration on the front cover. At 60x and 200x you can see the dots and color separation printing that make it up.

The inside of the front cover is boring old card stock (200x).

The book is held together by a simple binding using this glue (200x).

Inside the pages we can see that the printing doesn't look so perfect up close (60x, 200x).

What is today's 60x mystery picture?

Grab Bag

2006-01-25T14:54:00.000-08:00

Many of you guessed correctly that yesterday's mystery image was a raisin.

Here's today's images:

The point of a thumbtack at 60x.

I don't have any stain right now, but this is a human skin cell taken from the inside of my cheek at 200x.

A green scouring pad at 60x, 200x and fluorescing at 60x.

Two threads at 200x. The top is 100% polyester and the bottom is 63% polyester, ~~63%~~ 37% (d'oh!) cotton.

What is today's mystery image?

Trail Mix

2006-01-24T15:02:00.000-08:00

I'm back! Sorry to let you all down, but I had parents to show a city to. Anyway, I thought I'd make it up to you by doing an oversized post for today.

First things first- the answer to the last mystery picture is: the point of a toothpick.

Today, I thought I'd feature a bag of trail mix I got at the dollar store. Everything is at 200x.

Sunflower Seed

Peanut

M&M Shell

M&M Chocolate

Dried Pineapple

Dried Papaya

What could today's mystery picture be? 200x

Cactus

2006-01-18T14:47:00.000-08:00

The answer to yesterday's mystery image was: The head of a paper match.

Not much time for commentary today.

Cactus (species unknown)

A cross section showing the needles as they grew. 60x.

A clump of needles at 60x.

Needles fluoresce at 60x. (Thanks for the spelling correction, Hitmouse.)

The filament from inside a clear glass lightbulb at 60x and 200x.

What is today's 200x mystery pic? Guess in the comments.

From the Kitchen: Grains and Seeds

2006-01-17T12:51:00.000-08:00

The answer to yesterday's mystery photo was correctly guessed by ike who suggested it was part of Abraham Lincoln on a U.S. Penny and he was absolutely right. It was Abe Lincoln's lips and chin.

My posting may be sporadic for the rest of the week as my parents are going to be visiting for the next few days, but I will try to make a post every day.

Today, I went back to the kitchen to find more fascinating foods beneath the scope. Today, everything, even the mystery pic, is at 60x.

Black Barley

Daikon Radish Seed

Angel Hair Pasta

White Basmati Rice

Couscous

Long Grain Wild Rice

And two fluorescent pictures-

Couscous

Angel hair pasta

What is today's mystery picture?

The Incredible, Edible Egg

2006-01-16T17:05:00.000-08:00

Someone suggested yesterday's image was a doll's eye... well anyone who's ever been a boy knows that they aren't dolls, they're action figures. Specifically, my old Obi Wan Kenobi action figure.

Today I thought I'd feature some more food, in this case, I've gone inside and out everyone's favorite chicken excretion, the egg.

Eggshell 200x

Egg skin at 200x

Egg white at 200x

Egg yolk at 60x

Today's mystery image at 200x. (Hint: Not an egg.)

More Randomness for Sunday

2006-01-15T13:22:00.000-08:00

The many of you who guessed it was a fountain pen nib were absolutely right. Good job.

Someone suggested that I show full-sized images of mystery picture photos which I will try to start doing once I run out of my current backlog.

Some of you might be wondering exactly how much the microscope magnifies so I stuck this metal ruler underneath it. I never use the 10x, so I decided to only show you at 60x (top) and 200x (bottom). The black marks are millimeter marks so as you can see, 60x is about 3 millimeters and 200x is about 1 millimeter.

A down feather from a feather pillow, probably goose down, shown here at 60x, 200x and 200x with the blacklight.

That's right, I shed blood for this blog! Here's some of it, first drying and coagulating and then dried out, all at 200x.

Finally, the mystery picture at 60x! What could it be? Leave a guess in the comments section.

Quick update-

2006-01-14T15:13:00.000-08:00

The LED blacklight flashlight I ordered from ebay came today. Here is the first picture I've taken using it, some salt at 200x glowing under the UV light.

Saturday Random Assortment

2006-01-14T10:46:00.000-08:00

Whoever it was who guessed yesterday's mystery picture was a rusty nail was absolutely right! Here is a view of the tip at 200x:

And now a random assortment of photos-

A phonograph record at 200x

At 200x you can see why some people prefer calling this a phonograph stylus rather than a phonograph needle.

A chip off of a bamboo plant we have growing in the kitchen at 60x.

Ground coffee at 200x

Ajax powdered cleaner is pretty powdery even at 200x.

Today's mystery image is at 60x. Can you guess what it is?

Big Lots $10 Challenge Part 3

2006-01-13T12:14:00.000-08:00

Those who tuned in on Wednesday know that we were at $6.21 on our $10 challenge. Let's finish it up today with the final two entries.

At $2.75 it's this bleach toilet bowl cleaner cake, a scraping from it seen here at 200x... and boy did the toilet need it!

Finally, at $0.99 is this soy-based imitation bacon bit which I will use to put on soups and salads for the next few months, if I can stomach it after seeing this picture.

And that's it for the Big Lots $10 challenge. The final total was $9.95 and, sadly, I could find nothing for 5 cents that day. Coming soon: The 99 Cent Store $10 challenge!

This evergreen tree grows in our backyard. Although it can't be seen by the naked eye, it appears that it is being attacked by some sort of fungus.

Finally, today's mystery object at 200x. What could it be? Come back tomorrow for the answer.

Only one pic today. Sorry.

2006-01-12T20:30:00.000-08:00

I had jury duty today and I'm just too tired to post much.

The answer to the mystery image yesterday is- MONOSODIUM GLUTEMATE, a.k.a. MSG, a.k.a. the white powdery stuff they put on your Chinese food to make it taste soooooo good.

The MSG came sealed for freshness with this coated paper seal (at 200x)

The Big Lots challenge continues and possibly completes tomorrow.

Big Lots $10 Challenge Part 2

2006-01-11T13:02:00.000-08:00

Here is part 2 where we today unveil the first of the mystery pictures.

Each day I will post a mystery picture at the end and I won't tell you what it is until the next day. Feel free to guess in the comments... or not. Remember, anonymous commenting is allowed on my blog so if you're shy, don't be worried.

Now, on with the show. As you'll remember from yesterday, the challenge was to spend $10 at Big Lots (items I would use only) and see what I could get. I got so much that I'm splitting it over several days.

For $0.99 I got some sugar free Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. I'm not diabetic, nor is my wife and Lucy can't eat chocolate, but I figure if we're going to eat candy, we might as well have the kind without sugar. These Reese's are an obscene waste of packaging which means there's ever so much more to photograph. All Reese's images are at 200x.

The bag of candy was made of colored plastic.

Each candy was individually wrapped both in foil

And in a paper wrapper.

You got peanut butter in my chocolate! You got chocolate in my peanut butter! Here they both are, peanut butter on top, chocolate on the bottom. You can see little moisture bubbles on the chocolate which were bursting under the heat of the lamp while I took the picture. It never ceases to amaze me how things which seem so dry are actually so moist.

At $0.48, this emery board proved to have twice the value as it has both a coarse dark side and a fine light side to photograph.

And finally, the mystery object!

It cost me another $0.48 and is probably the most interesting picture from the excursion. What do you think it could be? Let me know in the comments. Answer tomorrow!

Oops! Almost forgot to tally up. Added to yesterday's expenses, we're now up to $6.21

An embarassed plea (plus pics!)

2006-01-10T17:09:00.000-08:00

I want to thank everyone here for coming and viewing my site and making all your terrific comments. You have no idea how happy they make me to see and how wonderful it is to know that there are so many other people who enjoy what I am doing.

But I want to do so much more for all of you. There are so many other things, smaller things, more detailed things, that I wish I could show you. I can't because of the limitations of the QX3 microscope. Now, eventually no matter what I plan to get myself a really good professional digital microscope. Something like this. Unfortunately, right now I am unemployed and I have been for quite a while so that is not going to be in the cards any time in the forseeable future. I bought the QX3 with money given to me as a present which the giver insisted I only use on something frivolous, so I bought the one thing I always wanted and never got because I couldn't justify the price... and maybe I'm just shiftless but now that I have it, I'm not satisfied. I want to do better.

So this is what I am asking of you... and please know before I say it that this is a request, not a demand. This is a free blog and it will remain free and even if none of you do this, I will keep giving you new and interesting pictures every day for as long as I can. I will still take your requests and don't worry, I won't think any less of you.

Think of this blog as sort of a microscopic museum. Like all museums, there is an option to give a donation if you feel it was something that was worthy of your money. With your donations, I pledge to spend the money solely on a new microscope, whether it turns out to be a $100 slight upgrade to a QX5 or a $1200 full upgrade to a microscope like the one I linked to above. Of course, it will all depend on how much money I get from this.

So, if you do want to give, please click the paypal link and send me something- it doesn't have to be much, even a dollar is better than nothing- but do not feel obligated to do so and do not think I expect it of any of you. Thank you all again for coming to my blog and sharing my love of the microscopic with me.

Now, finally as a present for reading this, here are a few pictures I haven't put up yet-

A business card at 200x

Kitty Litter at 200x

Printed Circuit Board from a RAM DIMM (512 MB) at 60x

These lips could not tell a lie- George Washington on a 1998 Quarter at 60x

As discussed in the comments, a bloodworm carcass- bloodworms are mosquito larvae. This one has been freeze-dried as fish food.

Let me know what you think about having a mystery image up each day which I would reveal the next day. I think that might be fun.

Big Lots $10 Challenge Part 1

2006-01-10T13:41:00.001-08:00

So, the trip to big lots went well. Really well. Far better than I expected. In fact, I got so much stuff that I'm going to split it up over several days otherwise you'll all be overwhelmed. I made myself a rule when there that I would only buy things we would end up using so that limited my choices a little which made me not too optimistic, but I think you'll agree that the results are fantastic!

First up, for $1.99, a can filled with green tea in teabags. This provided several interesting images. I'm afraid I couldn't get one I was satisfied with of the can itself.

The tea was vaccuum-sealed in this foil package seen at 200x.

The teabag itself, like all paper, is actually just a collection of meshed-together fibers. 200x.

These layered boulders are actually the crushed and dried remains of the leaves we use to get the tea.

While we're on the subject of tea, these anise and green tea breath strips, one seen here at 60x, for $0.49 are basically just a liquid gel so there's not much to see.

Here is the requested potato chip at 200x. Edit: I forgot to mention, it is a Lay's classic potato chip (thanks to BioWizard who also pointed out that you are seeing the chip beneath a layer of glazed salt.) The bag was $0.99

No, it's not a Georgia O'Keefe painting, it's a cinnamon stick from a small bag of them for $0.79

For those keeping score, that's $4.26 so far.

Tune in tomorrow for wasteful packaging and cool crystals.

Answering some requests and questions

2006-01-09T11:41:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone for your great comments, questions and suggestions. I will try to get to all of them, although some things you suggested simply don't look very interesting under my microscope.

First, some answers to your questions that have been e-mailed and posted here:

Q: What photoshop techniques are you using?
A: Auto-Levels (ctrl-shift-L) and Auto-Color Balance (ctrl-shift-B) and it seems to make a difference depending on which I do first sometimes. I will also go in and manually correct it if I don't like what it's done. When a single color predominates, the final result is sometimes not very good. I am also using a freeware program called Noiseware Community Edition mostly because it's free. I am still experimenting with the denoising.

Q: Do you take requests?
A: Yes! See below! However, as I said, sometimes things do not look very good under the microscope even if you think they will. The outside of an orange peel is a great example because it just didn't look like much of anything. I try to only select things I think will either be interesting or beautiful (preferably both) and before you ask, yes I think the dog booger is beautiful in its own way. I am also looking for ideas for theme days.

Q: What sort of things should I request?
Anything that I can break down small enough to fit under the microscope. Most liquids will not work because they have no structure. Soon I'll be experimenting with a blacklight to see if I can get any interesting results with flourescent materials (although I can't make any promises). If it works, I'll be asking for ideas for things which might flouresce under the microscope which wouldn't normally do so when viewed with our eyes.

Q: Are you a scientist?
A: Nope, I was way too much of a slacker, but I love science. I try to keep up with current science as much as I can because the universe is a source of never-ending wonder to me and I want to know how it all works. Professionally, I'm a (sadly currently unemployed) audio engineer, writer and voice-over actor. Here's my professional website: http://www.everyonesvoice.com

Q: Why haven't you shown any microorganisms yet?
A: Because I haven't found any good ones to show you yet. So far I haven't ventured much past the block I live on (although that will change today!) and being in the San Fernando Valley, there's just not much standing water to be found. Many of the ponds and streams here are fenced off, I guess to stop homeless people from bathing in them or drinking the water so finding some is going to be a challenge but I have not given up yet! I also plan on taking a trip to the ocean and bring back lots of samples. Probably just a couple of hours of sample collecting will provide a week's worth of images.

Q: Was that really your booger?
A: Yes.

Q: Are you going to do sperm?
A: They would be too small for the microscope to see but I would definitely do so if I had the ability. There is no science without sacrifice!

For Tomorrow: The Big Lots Challenge
Wherein I go to the Big Lots discount store and see how many different things I can buy to put under the scope for $10. Check back for more!

Now, on to today's pictures, mostly requests:

Someone suggested one of my nails. Here is a toenail at 200x

And Lucy graciously donated a piece of her claw as well. Her mouth may be cleaner than a human's but her nails certainly aren't! Shown at 200x

My electric toothbrush at 200x

An eggshell blue styrofoam packing peanut at 200x

Someone requested a potato chip. I don't keep any in the house, but I might try to get some today at Big Lots. In the mean time, here is a Wheat Thin cracker at 60x.

Hello BoingBoing Readers!

2006-01-08T16:10:00.000-08:00

I just thought I'd submit my blog to BoingBoing on a whim. I never really though I'd be honored with a link. Welcome to my page. I hope you like the images I'm taking. Please feel free to make any comments and/or suggestions and come back Monday for more pictures!

Update: Whoops, Emmanuel notified me that I did not have anonymous comments turned on. Sorry about that folks. They're on now.

Sunday Grab Bag

2006-01-08T13:55:00.000-08:00

I am experimenting a little with noise reduction software. The first four have it and the rest don't. Please let me know what you think of the difference.

An ~~aphid~~ thrip (thank you anonymous commenter) at 60 and 200x. I found it in the flower of an early-blooming mangolia.

A dandelion seed from both ends at 60x

The tip of a zinc screw at 60x

Another fly from another spider web. Below, its proboscis and compound eye, all three at 200x.

2006-01-07T13:48:00.000-08:00

A big, big thank you to Mabus for showing me how to improve my image quality with a quick photoshop color adjustment. Now the images are looking much better.

Today I thought I'd raid the medicine cabinet and see what some of the stuff we put in our bodies to make us better looks like under the scope.

Generic Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed Decongestant/Antihistamine tablet) at 200x

Mylanta Ultra at 200x

Generic Ibuprofen at 200x

The ibuprofen also has a dark coating on the outside of the pill which is some other ingredient, probably to mask the very bitter taste of the medication and make it easier to swallow. Here is a scraping of the coating with the ibuprofen beneath at 200x

Generic Bufferin (Buffered Aspirin) tablet at 200x

Zyrtec prescription allergy medication at 200x

Sertraline (Generic Zoloft) at 200x.

Dinner Time

2006-01-06T17:04:00.000-08:00

Today's selection is going to be all food-related. Is anyone seeing these? If so please leave a comment. Thanks!

Dried, crushed red pepper at 60x

Broccoli at 60x

Red cabbage slice at 200x

Dried oregano at 60x

Baking soda at 200x

Dried Parsley at 200x

Two views of a dried clove at 60x and 200x

Table salt at 60x

Hamburger Bun at 200x

New Pictures!

2006-01-05T09:07:00.000-08:00

A spider lives in the window sill above our shower and I found this little fly, no more than a couple of millimeters long, in its' web. Here's his head and part of his body at 60x

The fly's beautiful wing at 200x.

The fly's compound eye at 200x. It's apparently been damaged.

A non-static dryer sheet at 60x

Let the boogers continue! This one is from Lucy's eye at 60x and 200x. Note that while Lucy's booger is cleaner than mine (thanks to her breathing less Los Angeles outside air than I do), hers is far more slimy-looking. That's SCIENCE!

The sticky part of a band-aid at 200x

Salvia Divinorum (cured and soaked in salvia extract), a legal hallucinogen, at 200x.

Graphite from a mechanical pencil at 200x

A fish flake. They look so smooth and flat with our eyes, but at 200x they're another world!

Welcome to my new Microscopy Blog

2006-01-04T17:22:00.000-08:00

Digital photos taken with the Digital Blue QX3+ Digital Microscope

I'm still new at this so please bear with the quality for now. I'm working to improve it.

Here's the first few images from my QX3+. By the way, if you want to buy one and you're running Windows XP, be sure to get the XP upgrade from Intel's website here.

Now on with the first photos! Click to enlarge.

Shred of paper from a cigarette with logo at 60x

Leaf from a quince tree at 60x

Machined finger grip on a miniature brass screwdriver at 60x

Burnt match head at 200x

Orange peel (inside) at 200x

2004 Penny at 200x

1989 Quarter (obverse)

Dried Tobacco at 200x

Dried Mucous (eew- who knew boogers were that dirty?) at 60x

Immature cannabis seed (don't tell the feds) at 200x

ADDED BY POPULAR DEMAND - Two cannabis leaf at 60 and 200x