10 most beautiful microscopic photos in 2009

Microscope photos are a Nikon-sponsored photography competition held annually. The curiosity, passion and inspiration of photographers has brought readers a vivid picture of the micro world.

First place: 'Statue of the penis'

The image of the male reproductive cell of mustard was enlarged 20 times under a microscope. The photo won the top spot in the 2009 microscope photo competition (2009 Small World Photomicrography Competition).

Arabidopsis thaliana is the first plant to have a fully sequenced genome and is often used as a model in scientific research.

This time, the unexpected artistic beauty of the genome urged botanist Heiti Paves (Estonian University of Technology) to capture and submit it to the competition.

Nikon-sponsored microscopic photography contest has a 35-year tradition. The competition is held annually to showcase the ' beauty and complex nature of life viewed through microscopic light '.

Second place: Flower stalk

The photo of a thin cut of the flower stalk Sonchus asper - a yellow wild flower that often grows on farmland - won the runner-up position of the microscope photo competition in 2009.

Gerd A.Guenther, photographer and rancher in Dusseldorf, said the striking contrast between the two red tips on plant fur and the blue and white stalks touched him.

Plants have been enlarged 150 times, bringing a new look to the wonders of nature.

Third place: A beautiful contrast layer

A contrast layer is a light-sensitive material used in industrial processes. The photo was enlarged 200 times.

The winner of this third prize is Barrios-Perez, who works at the Canadian Institute of Microstructure Science Research Institute.

He said that the layer of warm sun-like contrast to the Earth.

Fourth position: Spiral ovaries

The fourth prize photo shows the developing oocyte or unfertilized egg cells in a spiral pattern in the female whale ovary. The bulkhead of the ovary is represented by black patches.

The photo was taken by James E. Hayden, of the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia. He said that although it is an art product, the photograph can be used to illustrate the structure of the ovaries and egg cells.

5th place: Cute star

A small starving starfish starving his mouth were transparent tubes at his feet to grasp the bait.

Marine biologist Bruno Vellutini of Sao Paulo Brazilian University talks about his 40-magnified magnificent starfish.

Vellutini sent the contest photo because he liked the color contrast and the mobile feeling evoked from the shin.

Sixth position: Fish scales

Havi Sarfaty, the vet, captures anything that reminds him of curiosity. Scales of 20 times larger discus under this microscope ranked 6/10 in the competition.

Sarfaty said, the microscopic picture reveals the beautiful structure and colors of fish scales.

Seventh position: Hairs

The photographer is Shirley Owens, a former member of the Microscope Center at Michigan State University. He said that the hair has been enlarged 450 times, these elements are not visible to the naked eye.

Eighth position: Dry cotton

The rainbow-dyed cotton yarns were shot 200 times larger, giving a highlight of the size, shape and quality of cotton fibers.

Photographer Lloyd Donaldson, author of the photo working at Donaldson of Scion Biomaterial Company in Rotorua, New Zealand.

Ninth position: Stone and aesthetic perspective

Geologist Bernardo Cesare of the University of Padua in Italy consumed countless filters and dyes until he created a 5-magnified magnification of Gabbro stone.

Cesare said that the photo, although not significant scientific, is very beautiful in color and shape.

10th place: Carbon sink

Symbiotic association between the creatures seen in the photo of Actinocyclus diatoms (upper circle) and red seaweed Antithamionella.

Life forms rely on each other to survive. Furthermore, two marine plants act as CO2 tanks and thus play an important role in maintaining the Earth's climate. The photographer is Arlene Wechezak, a cell biologist and biologist.