Tumour cells in a mouse’s brain
Bruno Cisterna/Nikon Small World
The top prize in this year’s Nikon Small World photography competition was awarded to a stunning image of tumour cells within a mouse’s brain. The intricate details reveal actin strands bordering each cell, microtubules, and a violet nucleus.
The photographer, Bruno Cisterna Irrazabal, is investigating how disruptions in cellular structures around nuclei could impact the onset of neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.
In another captivating shot, maroon-hued fruiting bodies of slime moulds were captured by Henri Koskinen from the University of Helsinki in Finland.
A vibrant cross-section of European beachgrass, revealing its vascular bundles, was photographed by Gerhard Vlcek in Austria.
Miniature scales from a Ulysses butterfly’s wings, showcasing their intricate details, were captured by Daniel Knop in Germany.
Pawe? B?achowicz from Poland zoomed in on a green crab spider to highlight its eight eyes, each no larger than 6 millimetres.
Finally, Marek Mi?’s neon image showcased translucent water fleas at different stages of reproduction in Poland.
David Maitland’s photo of vascular bundles in a common bracken stem smiled expressionally in the UK.
Vocabulary List:
- Intricate /ˈɪn.trɪ.kət/ (adjective): Very detailed and complicated.
- Tumour /ˈtjuː.mər/ (noun): An abnormal growth of tissue in the body.
- Vascular /ˈvæs.kjʊ.lər/ (adjective): Relating to the vessels of fluid in a plant or animal.
- Reproduction /ˌriː.prəˈdʌk.ʃən/ (noun): The process of producing offspring.
- Neurological /ˌnjʊə.rəˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl/ (adjective): Pertaining to the nervous system.
- Disruptions /dɪsˈrʌp.ʃənz/ (noun): Interruptions or disturbances in a process or system.
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