Category: Environment
Environmental observations (observations in the field, pollution etc).
Class room practical on bread mold experiment
A class room practical to study molds on bread was performed by 1st semester undergraduates. Target group – 20 students who worked in batches of 5 each Materials used – 4 slices of bread (any brand) 4 plastic bags Sealing tape Black marker Procedure followed – Each group took a plastic bag and labeled it…
Blue and yellow moldy growth on Amla
Powdery masses of green and yellow spores were seen on bruised surface of Amla ( Phyllanthus emblica). On consulting literature, it was evident that due to rough handling during long distance transportation and storage, the injured fruits are susceptible to fungal infections. The common microflora responsible for the post-harvest losses of fruits usually belong to…
Infected Cucurbita leaf under foldscope
White powder-like substance was seen on Cucurbita leaves. The leaves showed yellow patches also. The infected powder was seen under foldscope to find elongated structures as well as oval-shaped spores/cysts.
ICAR-NBAIR conducts workshop for Mynsain farmers
A daylong workshop for farmers to attest the utility of a ‘paper microscope’ in advocating management practices against microscopic pests in organic farming was conducted by ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resource, Bengaluru in association with ICAR Complex for NEH Region, Barapani at Mynsain village in Ri Bhoi District of Meghalaya in December 2018. Around…
Germinating fungal spores
Germinating hyphae were little tiny structures noticed in the fermented dough. I had always read about germinating spores but seeing for the first time under the foldscope was unbelievable.
Different stages of sporulation in fungi observed under foldscope
Beginning of sporogenesis is a rare view which I was able to study under foldscope incidentally. Stage-1: The fungal hyphae had spread forming a dense network called mycelium. Stage -2: From these some special reproductive hyphae called sporangiophores were visible. The tips of these stalk-like structures were slightly swollen. Stage -3: These then became big…
CONSORTIUM OF FUNGI ON FERMENTED DOUGH
My winter vacations began with fungal rich samples for my foldscope. Travelling from Chandigarh to Ahmedabad (in Gujarat) to my daughter’s place proved to be an enthusiastic vacation for me. While she was off to her workplace, I was busy cleaning the mess and there I got samples worth to view under a foldscope. In…
Pretty Things on a Marigold Flower
I plucked out some parts from the center of a marigold flower. Some are evidently the stamens, but there are structures which – upon magnification with Foldscope – appear to bear sacs filled with liquid, possibly nectar. Following are the curled structures upon magnification: I like how pretty and gem-like these look under Foldscope. I…
TS OF A STEM TO SHOW TRICHOMES
T.s. of stem to show trichomes (shoot hair), leaf epidermis to show stomata, onion root tip to show mitosis, spine and root hair under foldscope… Dr. Shweta Nailwal mam experimented and made this effort to show us these images।।।।।
Mycelium growth found on chapati dough
Mouldy growth was seen on stale chapatti dough left un-noticed. On viewing a sample drawn from the white cottony infected portion showed growth of thread-like structures under a foldscope. These are mycelium.
Workshop on Foldscope at Murguma, Purulia at Nature study Camp in collaboration with Howrah Vigyan Chetna Samannaya
A workshop named “Exploring Invisible World with Foldscope” at Murguma, Purulia at morning session of 27th December, 2018 was organized by foldscope team of University of Calcutta, Department of Environmental Science in collaboration with Howrah Vigyan Chetna Samannaya on 27th December, 2018. All the students of Nature Study Camp were present at the workshop. They…
Foldscope sensitization@ NSS Camp GGDSD COLLEGE
National Service Scheme (NSS) is an Indian government-sponsored public service program conducted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of India. NSS Camp is a special kind of a weeklong camp which is usually organized by the regional NSS Centers once in a year. The camp is planned in such a way that the volunteers are…
Back to the Himalayas with Foldscope
Hey folks, here’s a post about my journey in the Himalayas with Foldscope. Follow me on Twitter and Researchgate to know more. I had planned another journey to the Himalayas for this year-end hoping to discover microorganisms and Tardigrade during the winter. I was planning to visit Kedarkantha in Uttarakhand, India. Unfortunately due to a…
OBSERVATION OF EAR WAX UNDER FOLDSCOPE
Ear waxDust & dead organisms
Fungi on damp wall
Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus are isolated from damp walls. The cement walls of the constructions with internal seepage either due to leakages or air conditioners also support the fungal growth. The last four images are taken using foldscope microscope. Aspergillus niger Aspergillus niger Aspergillus flavus Aspergillus flavus
Unknown Fungus on Pomegranate fruit
Pomegranate stored in refrigerator had some white powdery growth on them. I scraped a sample to observe it through foldscope to find branching network of fungal hyphae. Sporangial development at the tips of hyphae could be made out under foldscope.
HIGH-RESOLUTION FOLDSCOPY OF A BIOLOGICAL MICROMACHINE: VORTICELLA
Our foldscope team was onboard for sampling from Chilika Lagoon along with 6 students and PI of foldscope project from Department of Zoology, D.N. Government College Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh on 27th Dec 2018. It was a fabulous bright sunny day and we were sure that in our pursuit for capturing the live biological machines in…
The Drinking Water at Kalyan’s Railway Stations Is Undrinkable
I often used to sit for hours on railway station waiting for train and the most amazing thing which I saw on stations was never ending crowd. whatever is the time, many people are there at kalyan station waiting for trains. Quite often I used to see people drinking the waters available at water tanks…
Fuzzy Stickers
Foldscope reveals why they stick to everything! One of MANY of these found on my dog...all tangled with dog hair!
Trichomes under foldscope
Variable shapes of slender pointed trichomes were seen in leaves of lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) epidermal peel under foldscope.
Wild plants of Chandigarh – Specimen 3 (Lima bean )
Botanical name – Phaseolus. lunatus Family – Fabaceae Collection site – Sec-64, S.A.S Nagar (Mohali) Habitat – fast-growing annual herbaceous vine, that becomes weed in the wild. It rapidly colonizes degraded areas and nearby vegetation forming dense thickets in forests, along trails, riverbanks, or fences. The seeds are edible as green or in dry form….
Foldscope demonstration to head of GGDSD COLLEGE
A series of workshops were conducted for post graduate and graduate students of GGDSD college during the first half of the Phase-1. Driven by curiosity and to know more about foldscope, Principal of our college Dr. Bhushan Kumar Sharma interacted with the team foldscope. He showed keen interest to know about the working of foldscope…
FOLDSCOPE : Leads Curiosity towards science.
To develop curiosity amongs children towards science Dr. R.K.Singh and his research team organised a workshop for the senior secondary level school teachers at Faculty Development Center HNB Garhwal University. Because teachers are the backbone and a medium that can encourage students toward science through the weapons i.e. KNOWLEDGE and FOLDSCOPE instrument that can be…
Sensitization of Farmers about foldscope usage in different regions of Punjab
Punjab State has got its name from the five rivers – Sutlej, Ravi, Beas, Chenab and Jhelum. Post Independence Sutlej, Ravi and Beas are part of the Indian Punjab. These rivers divided the land into separate regions, probably that restricted the interaction between the people living in these geographically separated Regions. Due to this, there is a difference between…
Contrast between different hair samples from various specimen
STUDENT NAME: Reya Gafar COLLEGE: CMR National PU College ITPL SPECIMEN: Hair samples(cat hair{felis Catus}, dog hair{Canus Lupus familaris}, human hair) SPECIMEN COLLECTED FROM: Bangalore ==>Human Hair Follicle (hair type: Straight) The above picture shows us the rather distinct shape of a human hair follicle. We can see that the root of human hairs are…
Foldscope sensitization at a farm in Punjab -2
In Punjab mainly two types of livestock production practices are seen. In one type, rural household animals are integrated with farming and the farmers feed animals using green fodder and crop residues, while in the second type large herds are kept in rangelands. It was a small farm owned by marginal farmer who had grown…
Anther
The part of a stamen that contains the pollen
Galls formed on the Roots due to Plant Parasitic Nematode
Typical example of Galls formed on roots by Root Knot Nematodes
Filament of a Flower
Foldscope ID: 0002 7AB1 B563