Tumour cells in a mouse’s brain
Bruno Cisterna/Nikon Small World
A remarkable image capturing a delicate network of tumour cells inside a mouse’s brain has been crowned the winner of the prestigious Nikon Small World photography competition. The photograph, taken by Bruno Cisterna Irrazabal at Augusta University in Georgia, showcases tightly packed strands of actin protein surrounding green microtubules and a violet nucleus. Cisterna is investigating how the breakdown of these structures could impact the development of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Another striking entry captures maroon fruiting bodies of slime moulds by Henri Koskinen at the University of Helsinki. The image reveals a delicate net of thick threads enclosing a clump of spores from the species Cribraria cancellata.
Photographer Gerhard Vlcek’s vibrant cross-section of European beachgrass showcases turquoise vascular bundles alongside orange tissue, highlighting the plant’s water and food transportation systems.
Additional captivating images include miniature scales from a Ulysses butterfly’s wings, the eight eyes of a green crab spider, translucent water fleas at different reproductive stages, and expressive vascular bundles in a bracken fern stem.
Each photograph offers a unique glimpse into the intricate and fascinating world of microscopy, highlighting the beauty and complexity of the natural world at a microscopic level.
