Microscopic Photography Edit
10 Nikon ‘Small World’ 2008 Winners

Each year since 1974, Nikon has held a competition for the best light microscope pictures. The top 10 pictures are shown here from the 2008 competition. Entries included pictures of anything from unicellular organisms to manmade objects. The resulting photographs taken by scientists showcase the beauty of small worlds seen only with the aid of a microscope.

The top ten pictures (in order) were:

1. diatoms (unicellular organisms)

2. carbon nanotubes

3. Convallaria majalis (Lily of the Valley)

4. Dictyostelium discoideum (unicellular organism)

5. Japanese specialty paper fibers

6. Chrysolina fastuosa (Micro leaf beetle) on a pin head

7. Mitomycin (anti-cancer drug)

8. Crystallized mixture of resorcinal, methylene blue, and sulphur

9. Detail of compact disc

10.Orchestia gammarella (sand hopper)