Ronak Hati

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 In a bottle containing some pond water sample, a weird type of brush-like growth stuck to the wall of the bottle was present. I examined it using foldscope, and what I found out are several filamentous structures which are yellow to brownish in color. I suspect they may be brown alga or fungi. However, the present of yellow heterocyst-like cells in the brown filaments make it seem like a ‘brown’ cyanobacteria, something which I haven’t heard before….


 What do you think about it?


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 Ronak Hati,


 Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College.

Brown alga, fungus or a &#8216;brown&#8217; cyanobacteria?

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 Eklavya ScienceCon
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 Last month me and Mitali had the privilege to volunteer for a Foldscope booth at the Eklavya ScienceCon in Pune. It is a one of its kind science conference organised by Moving Academy of Medicine and Biomedicine, Pune along with Tribal Research and Training Institute, Pune for children studying in Eklavya schools. These schools provide tribal children with free education in English.

 
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 Students presenting their projects
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 Around 400 children from Eklavya Schools participated in this conference where they had several activities. Some lectures on astrophysics, artificial intelligence, astronomy and more along with opportunities to personally interact with scientists like Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, Dr. Madhav Deo, Dr. Rita Mulherkar and many more. I was personally pleasantly surprised to hear the brilliant questions these students asked! That too about astronomy and artificial intelligence!


 
 Padma Shri Dr. Madhav is the founder of TRTI and Dr. Rita is one of the main scientists associated with TRTI and MAMB.


 
 Thanks to Dr. Rita and Lakshmi Sir (Laks) , we had the opportunity to set up a Foldscope booth at the conference to demonstrate the use of Foldscope to the students.

 
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 On day 1 and 2 since the children had a tight schedule we had very few students coming at the booth. We were quite sad about that.


 But on the third day 😀

 
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 We had maaany children all bubbling with curiosity and eager to learn what Foldscope is.


 One of them ran away all of a sudden leaving us puzzled! and he returned back with his grandmother because he wanted her to see the foldscope 😀

 
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 Since we had very few kits we could only demonstrate some samples but the kids being so enthusiastic wanted to fold one by themselves. Each one of them performed one step and together they assembled a foldscope after which they saw samples through it. The joy on their faces after assembling their own microscopes was priceless!!!!

 
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 Lakshmi from one of the Eklavya schools stating that she wants to become a big big big scientist one day 🙂
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 Some more children expressing how they would use the foldscope
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 After recording their video they were not ensured that Manu sir would send them foldscopes so they made us record them telling their school address
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 All of us went out to collect samples of insects and ants.

 
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 We demonstrated projection mode and just then one of the students asked, “Didi, what do blood cells look like?”


 Excited we asked him, well do you want to see? And we rushed to get a lancet from the neighboring booth. 😀

 
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 Blood Smear under foldscope
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 It was an amazing experience! All the children from the schools left us awestruck with their brilliance every day.
 
 The only thing that disheartened us was that we had several teachers coming us and asking for foldscopes. They requested us to let them have atleast one foldscope because most of these schools don’t have a single microscope.


 As MAMB states – “Creative minds, who are game-changers, are evenly
 
 distributed in all societies irrespective of caste, creed, race, geographic location, and socio-economic status.”


 And we truly believe that access to scientific tools should also be unbiased and evenly distributed among these young minds.


 Their thirst to know more and learn more touched our heart and we want to do whatever we can to help them get access to foldscope.


 We are sharing contacts of a few teachers to figure out if any of our DBT funded super users could help them out in some way. All these are contacts of primary and secondary school teachers who expressed their immense desire to have access to foldscopes in thier schools.
 
 
 Asarbari Ashramschool, Taluka- Peth
 
 Mr. V A Patil sir
 
 9423071850
 
 vijaypatil93839@gmail.com
 
 
 Narashi Ashramschool, Taluka- Dindori
 
 Mr. P R Jadhav
 
 9850517757
 
 prashant.jadhav757@gmail.com
 
 
 Thanapada Ashramschool, Taluka- Trimbakeshwar
 
 Mr. A S Chaure
 
 9422838641
 
 ashokchaure2012@gmail.com
 
 
 EMRS Shendegaon , Shahapur
 
 Mr. Jitendra Sapale
 
 7770098759
 
 sapalejitu1993@gmail.com


 Government Secondary Ashramschool, Taluka- Ambegaon
 
 Laxman Sonaji Deokar
 
 9420005953
 
 laxmandeokar028@gmail.com
 


 Some more of the few things that left the children awestruck were motile bacteria, protozoa, plant cells, ants, insects, and more.

 
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 Crushed (:P) stigma of Rose
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Protozoans
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Stream of bacteria

 All these samples were collected by students themselves and therefore the joy they had on seeing their own collected samples was truly what made this foldscope outreach a success! We hope to meet all of them again in the future when they become big big big scientists! 😀
 
 (We also got autographs from some of these future scientists)

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 Laxmi’s autograph! 😀
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 Mitali and Ronak
 
 Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College, Mumbai.

Eklavya ScienceCon

Hairfall is one of the many things that may happen while you are combing your hair. Some of these hair apparently have a whitish ‘bulb’ at their root portion.


 I wondered how this would look magnified. Made a slide of it and observed it through foldscope. The foldscope had polarizing filters attached to it and I just wondered whether this ‘bulb’ would ‘light up’. And here, it did so 😍


 As you can see…


 <img alt="IMG_20190302_000157.jpg" class="alignnone wp-image-133403 size-full gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="133403" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1551484917","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0024630541871921","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190302_000157.jpg" data-recalc-dims="1" height="500" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_133411/IMG_20190302_000157.jpg" width="1000"/>


 <img alt="IMG_20190302_000208.jpg" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-133404 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="133404" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1551484927","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0031152647975078","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190302_000208.jpg" data-recalc-dims="1" height="500" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_133411/IMG_20190302_000208.jpg" width="1000"/>


 <img alt="IMG_20190302_000215.jpg" class="alignnone wp-image-133406 size-full gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="133406" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1551484935","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0027700831024931","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190302_000215.jpg" data-recalc-dims="1" height="500" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_133411/IMG_20190302_000215.jpg" width="1000"/>


 <img alt="IMG_20190302_000220.jpg" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-133405 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="133405" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1551484940","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0039525691699605","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190302_000220.jpg" data-recalc-dims="1" data-temp-aztec-id="bdf5e138-9395-4811-a17e-f9df9ce09429" height="500" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_133411/IMG_20190302_000220.jpg" width="1000"/>


 A video here too, showing the hair

<div class="video-player" id="v-O87M1tWA-1">
 <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="1000" src="https://videopress.com/embed/O87M1tWA?hd=1&amp;loop=0&amp;autoPlay=0&amp;permalink=1" width="562">
 </iframe>
 <script src="https://s0.wp.com/wp-content/plugins/video/assets/js/next/videopress-iframe.js">
 </script>
</div>

 Cheers to the lights!


 Ronak

From combing your hair to foldscoping&#8230;

While washing some slides, I ended up giving myself a cut to the finger by mistake. The drop of blood that came out and also the slides reminded me about Field staining I performed during practical sessions at college.


 This made me prepare a wet mount of that drop (usually smears are made). And this drop of blood won’t spread at all whilst under the cover slip! So in the end I added some water from the sides, and observed this under foldscope.


 <figure class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 512px">
 <img alt="IMG_20190326_205759.jpg" class="wp-image-138768 size-large gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="138768" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1553633879","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0068027210884354","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190326_205759.jpg" data-recalc-dims="1" data-temp-aztec-id="86c7f145-da11-433f-93c1-4a49f0c6f772" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_138770/IMG_20190326_205759.jpg" width="512"/>
 <figcaption class="wp-caption-text">
 Magnification 140 × 6.0x
 </figcaption>
 </figure>

<div class="video-player" id="v-dNIIKSLH-1">
 <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="1000" src="https://videopress.com/embed/dNIIKSLH?hd=1&amp;loop=0&amp;autoPlay=0&amp;permalink=1" width="562">
 </iframe>
 <script src="https://s0.wp.com/wp-content/plugins/video/assets/js/next/videopress-iframe.js">
 </script>
</div>

 Also some dance moves shown by the RBCs, as commanded by my hand. You can actually make out the shapes of RBCs as they are being rolled around.


 Also tried observing them under darkfield, they look as pretty as stars twinkling in the sky but couldn’t manage to get a good picture.


 <img alt="IMG_20190326_204938.jpg" class="alignnone wp-image-138782 size-full gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="138782" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1553633378","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"500","shutter_speed":"0.04","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190326_204938.jpg" data-recalc-dims="1" height="500" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_138770/IMG_20190326_204938.jpg" width="1000"/>


 And when I just left the foldscope as it is, I observed the RBCs vibrating, or moving at the same place. Is this because of Brownian motion of water molecules which bombard against the RBCs causing them to behave that way?

<div class="video-player" id="v-aOGFbbqL-1">
 <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="562" src="https://videopress.com/embed/aOGFbbqL?hd=1&amp;loop=0&amp;autoPlay=0&amp;permalink=1" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 <script src="https://s0.wp.com/wp-content/plugins/video/assets/js/next/videopress-iframe.js">
 </script>
</div>

 Also one more important thing! I found RBCs to be birefringent!


 .


 .


 Bazinga, they weren’t birefringent when I observed them using polarizing filters… They would look beautiful if they were…


 Have a good day and thanks for reading,


 Ronak

Bloodletting for curiosity&#8230;

This is some interesting structure I came across while trying to grow some pollen tubes using grape juice. And this seems as if four pollen tubes just grew and got fused (likely?).


 What do you all community of foldscopers think about this? Please comment on how likely this might be an artefact…

<figure class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 4000px">
 <img alt="IMG_20190326_164842.jpg" class="wp-image-139444 size-full gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="139444" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1553618922","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"160","shutter_speed":"0.01","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190326_164842.jpg" data-recalc-dims="1" data-temp-aztec-id="4c9f37d8-7c97-460a-9eb0-a70a67ee3c29" height="500" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_139445/IMG_20190326_164842.jpg" width="1000"/>
 <figcaption class="wp-caption-text">
 Magnification : 140×4.0x
 </figcaption>
</figure>

 Thank you,


 Ronak.

Tetralogy of Flowerot&#8230;

A few days ago I tried observing a wet mount of my own blood. The very same slide now has a large number of fibrin networks, the end result of the various steps of pathways that lead to clotting of blood.


 These fibrin networks not only prevent leaking of blood out of a vessel, they also trap cells within them effectively! This is good when it comes to preventing spread of pathogenic cells to other parts of the body.


 These look very beautiful microscopically. The images are as below


 <img alt="IMG_20190327_135659.jpg" class="alignnone wp-image-139883 size-full gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="139883" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1553695019","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.003030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190327_135659.jpg" data-recalc-dims="1" data-temp-aztec-id="80e70895-fbd9-423c-ac0c-5b4d671c79f0" height="500" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_139886/IMG_20190327_135659.jpg" width="1000"/>


 <img alt="IMG_20190327_135901.jpg" class="alignnone wp-image-139884 size-full gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="139884" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1553695141","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0040650406504065","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190327_135901.jpg" data-recalc-dims="1" height="500" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_139886/IMG_20190327_135901.jpg" width="1000"/>


 <img alt="IMG_20190327_135745.jpg" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-139885 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="139885" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1553695065","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.01","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190327_135745.jpg" data-recalc-dims="1" data-temp-aztec-id="b98153bf-e1d5-416b-bce1-a572047016be" height="500" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_139886/IMG_20190327_135745.jpg" width="1000"/>


 The final image also shows some air bubbles that ended up trapped in the fibrin network.


 Thanks for the read,


 Ronak.

You clot me!

Whenever I try to lift snails up using their shell or in case of any slight jerk, they happen to return back into their snail. However this is not the only thing usually happening, and one would spot a lot of foam being generated at the opening of the shell.


 Snails produce various sorts of secretions to help itself crawl, keep itself away from dehydration (for terrestrial snails). Another purpose served is a defense mechanism. Snails would crawl back into their snail and this may protect it from larger predators. However smaller predators such as ants may be able to get into the shell through the opening. The foam generated rapidly in large amounts is actually to block the opening of the shell and prevent anything from getting inside. This foam remains for a very long time.


 In my attempts to foldscope a snail, I was pretty successful to view one. But before I could actually attach my phone to it and record, the snail crawled into its shell. Accompanied by foaming. I was able to capture some of the bubbly moments.

<div class="video-player" id="v-k8FxWmez-1">
 <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="1000" src="https://videopress.com/embed/k8FxWmez?hd=1&amp;loop=0&amp;autoPlay=0&amp;permalink=1" width="562">
 </iframe>
 <script src="https://s0.wp.com/wp-content/plugins/video/assets/js/next/videopress-iframe.js">
 </script>
</div>

 Apologies for the potato quality 😂.


 I had to search for a very small snail, enough to be foldscopeable. Some baby snails were luckily present at my home.


 Now to make space for them to crawl on the coverslip (so that I would be able to see them from below), I took some wheat dough and made thin cylinders out of it. These I put on the slide to form a square over which I placed the coverslip that had the snail on it. You can use clay too.


 From this exercise I also learnt the snails I have can be attracted and gathered in large numbers using the very wheat dough! They loved to graze upon it.


 <img alt="IMG_20190403_102245.jpg" class="alignnone wp-image-140435 size-full gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="140435" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1554286965","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"500","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190403_102245.jpg" data-recalc-dims="1" height="500" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_140103/IMG_20190403_102245.jpg" width="1000"/>


 Thanks for the read,


 Ronak.

Why do snails foam?

So after a break from exams, I finally got to spend time with foldscope and write on the observations. This time with a respite from the colour white, a different colored light source! These pollen have not been stained with any dye, but light.

<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_20191010_082708" class="wp-image-184274 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="184274" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1570696028","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"500","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20191010_082708" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_184273/IMG_20191010_082708.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
 Pollens observed under white light, 140x magnification
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_20191010_082701" class="wp-image-184275 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="184275" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1570696021","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.05","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20191010_082701" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_184273/IMG_20191010_082701.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
 Same pollens observed under a red light source
 </figcaption>
</figure>

 Play of angular illumination gave dark field, but the pollens indeed retained the red colour!

<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_20191010_113956" class="wp-image-184276 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="184276" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1570707596","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.05","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20191010_113956" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_184273/IMG_20191010_113956.jpg"/>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_20191010_114419" class="wp-image-184277 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="184277" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1570707859","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"1000","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20191010_114419" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_184273/IMG_20191010_114419.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
 The white dots in this one are structural features on pollen surface (that of spines)
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_20191010_161038" class="wp-image-184278 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="184278" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1570723838","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"2000","shutter_speed":"0.05","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20191010_161038" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_184273/IMG_20191010_161038.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
 Pollens observed in darkfield and a green light source
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_20191010_120802" class="wp-image-184279 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="184279" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1570709281","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.00092678405931418","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20191010_120802" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_184273/IMG_20191010_120802.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
 The flower from which pollen were obtained. It apparently was from a plant that was an uninvited guest on my plant pots at home.
 </figcaption>
</figure>

 Thank you for reading the post.

A Celebration of Colors

About two years ago I came across these two posts on microcosmos :
 
 <a href="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?p=81">
 https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?p=81
 </a>
 
 <a href="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?p=32147">
 https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?p=32147
 </a>
 
 
 The observations in these posts made me want to image the snails at my home. I have tried imaging snails using many ways: cavity slides, plastic tapes – failing each time.

<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_-imber0" class="wp-image-191759 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="191759" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.0714","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_-imber0" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_191749/IMG_-imber0.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
 The snail – genus
 
 Allopeas
 
 (most likely) – seen through the 10x magnifier.
 
 The size of the shell is about 0.8m in length.
 </figcaption>
</figure>

 Two things would always happen in my attempts. Either the shell would crack and kill the snail, or the snail would retract into its shell and seal the entrance with foam. I discussed why it foams in this post –
 
 <a href="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?p=140103">
 https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?p=140103
 </a>


 This time, instead of observing a tiny, juvenile snail, I decided to look at an adult one (in its full glory). I wanted to observe the underside – how exactly does it move? As a child, I used to think that they have a large number of tiny feet, all covered in slime, all walking in a coordinated fashion.


 I wish I were right, but they only have a single footpad, unless we come across mutant snails with two or more feet (like the bithorax phenotype of
 
 Drosophila
 
 ). Snails make up for one foot by having thousands of teeth.


 I had to make room for the snail and also ensure it crawled in a way with its underside pointed towards the lens. So I took a glass slide, stuck two matchsticks on it, took my snail on a coverslip, and ultimately inverted the coverslip on the slide to create a small chamber. I taped the coverslip to the slide. Let’s give it a name – how about ‘allopie’?

<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_20200605_163152" class="wp-image-191763 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="191763" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1591374712","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"3200","shutter_speed":"0.05","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_20200605_163152" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_191749/IMG_20200605_163152.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
 A snail sandwich – glass slide, matchsticks, our allopie, coverslip, and cello tape.
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_20200605_163136" class="wp-image-191764 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="191764" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1591374695","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"400","shutter_speed":"0.04","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_20200605_163136" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_191749/IMG_20200605_163136-1.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
 Before I could even image, it slid into its shell and foamed. I waited.
 </figcaption>
</figure>

 After some waiting, it came out again.

<figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio">
 <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
 <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 
 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Zu34z86Z4Us?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 
 </div>
 </div>
</figure>

 And here I put the slide into my foldscope, and finally observed what I wanted to…
 
 Just look at all the slime it produces!
 

<figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio">
 <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
 <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 
 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UlIEdccka7U?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 
 </div>
 </div>
</figure>

 We can see a ‘wave’ that moves just like a ripple in the water! (watch the video at 0.25x speed)
 


 It seems that one ripple immediately follows the other and originates at the posterior end (do they compulsorily originate from there only? can they originate from anywhere along the length of the footpad?). One thing is for sure, that it moves towards the anterior end.


 How does this ripple help our allopie move forward? The posterior end of the footpad of allopie lifts up as the muscles in that region contract. Look at this small representation I created, where line AC represents the entire footpad. Because A moves from its previous position to a new position, the region of footpad between A and B lifts up and creates a small ‘pocket’. Now A remains in its new position as the muscles in the posterior regions relax and the anterior regions contract, thus setting forward the wave.

<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="Displaying IMG_20200609_195638.jpg" class="gcloudimg" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_191749/0"/>
</figure>

 This wave likely generates enough energy to propel our allopie (and all other snails) forward. And it is not just one wave at a time, but several waves that occur with intervals. These are the pedal waves. The regions between the pedal waves are interwaves. The picture below shows what I mean. Several pedal waves occurring simultaneously on the footpad helps it move continuously forward.



<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="Effects of serotonin, dopamine and ergometrine on locomotion in ..." class="gcloudimg" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_191749/2-Figure1-1.png"/>
 <figcaption>
 Adapted from Pavlova (2001), Journal of Experimental Biology
 </figcaption>
</figure>

 As I ended up imaging the waves, our allopie must have flipped and started crawling on the glass slide instead of coverslip. I got to look at its shell, and next I was really amazed by what I saw!

<figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio">
 <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
 <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 
 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O_LiNoDvqAk?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 
 </div>
 </div>
</figure>

 I wish I could have a closer look at its eye… will do it the next time! Need some controlled way of looking, because it will tend to go out of focus a lot!
 
 
 Could you suggest me a way of making the snail stay still, so I could look at all its parts?


 EDIT: I realized that pedal waves propagate ahead through peeling motion, so physics pertaining to it can apply to the waves too.


 Cheers,
 
 Ronak.

YOU&#8217;VE GOT SNAIL!!

(A small write-up, written by my batchmates and I. Decided to post this here. Hope you enjoy reading it :D)


 _____


 While we’ve been locked in our houses due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are wondering when life will be back to normal, we are reminded again and again that a tiny virus has brought our world to a stop. A minuscule entity, only visible under the strongest microscopes, that cannot even be considered a living thing has wreaked havoc across the globe! Yes, that’s right a virus is neither dead nor alive!


 The general understanding is that there is no cure or vaccine against COVID-19 presently. People have been resorting to extraordinary measures like injecting disinfectant in their body or ‘eating
 
 dandelions of pH 22
 
 because Coronavirus can’t survive at a high pH’. Such claims have been rampant in WhatsApp forwards and have resulted in numerous misconceptions about viruses. Let’s fight misinformation with information. Let’s start by knowing about viruses.

<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="0-1" class="wp-image-191898 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="191898" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="0-1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_191893/0-1.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
 “When pandemics become a war, masks play the role of shields.”
 </figcaption>
</figure>

 _____

<h2>
 What are viruses?
</h2>

 The best way to describe viruses would be as ‘acellular, submicroscopic infectious agents that cannot reproduce on their own’. They are so tiny that we require special microscopes to view them – just like how we build special telescopes to look at distant galaxies and black holes. They have once been the ‘black holes’ of biology, being rendered white with time. They are a popular topic of research.
 


 To understand what ‘acellular’ is, we must take a look at what ‘cellular’ means. All life forms including plants, fungi, animals including us, and even bacteria are made up of cells – an independent, membrane-enclosed compartment with machinery to produce proteins (called ribosomes), an instruction manual for their production (genetic material aka DNA), and other lipid and sugar molecules. These molecules constantly react with each other; so a membrane encloses within itself tons of chemical reactions necessary to sustain life in the cell.


 But take a virus, and you will see that these chemical reactions are absent. A virus may or may not have a membrane made up of lipids, but has a coat of proteins that surrounds either a DNA or RNA genome – the set of codes necessary to create them. Provide a cell with all essential nutrients, and you will see that it grows, makes copies of itself, increases its number, and at some point dies. Do the same with an intact virus and you will see no change – it remains as it is – inanimate. This particular aspect makes it difficult to even call viruses a lifeform or even put them along with other cellular life forms. Of course, some cellular life forms will not grow if you performed the same experiment on them. These are intracellular parasites, they need to exist inside other cells to live. But what makes viruses different from them, we will discuss shortly.


 A cell while growing not only grows in size and divides – it creates exactly two copies of its DNA which each daughter cell takes away. A virus cannot do this by themselves. Similarly, a cell makes a copy of its DNA into RNA (aka ‘transcription’) and then ‘translates’ the RNA into strands of protein using the ribosome factories. A virus lacks ribosomes – it cannot make proteins on its own. Instead like a parasite, it makes copies of itself by cleverly hijacking a cell and making use of the cell’s machinery. Imagine it as a scenario where a gunman has entered your house, hands out a recipe to you, and makes you cook food for themself at gunpoint. Ultimately it kills off the cell.


 To make a cell its slave and use its machinery, viruses have to enter inside it – more specifically their genetic material has to. How do they achieve this? Specific proteins lying on the surface of viruses bind perfectly to specific molecules on the surface of the cell. To say, viruses have keys to locks on cells. Keys that fit perfectly into the lock! That’s how they open the door and enter inside easily. Once inside, they do what they need to. After making several copies of themselves, viruses exit the cell. Outside, they are nothing but lifeless. That’s why antibiotics – even the most potent ones that wreak havoc on bacteria – don’t work on them; these drugs are meant to act on living processes. Often, drugs that do affect them affect some aspects of the victim cells as well, since viruses thrive on the chemical reactions within a cell and we need to target these reactions to get them.


 The recipe for concocting viruses gets handed down every generation. But the one forwarded is not the original recipe. Say, if the recipe was for making a cake, the original recipe would say “Add one spoonful of sugar” while the new one would say “Add three spoons of sugar”. Mistakes are made when the recipe is copied down for the next generation. Through generations, a unique recipe gets created, and with it a new strain of the virus. If the original one could infect another animal (say our friends in the wild), the new one might infect humans too. That’s how epidemics erupt. We, humans, have no idea when new viruses would evolve into existence – our bodies are highly unprepared for them. That is what happened with COVID-19. The virus caught us off guard.


 Our body tries to fight off viruses regardless. Let us see how.


 _____

<h2>
 Viruses and our immune system
</h2>

 Our own body has an immune system: a vast array of soldiers ready to wage war on an intruder virus. One of the best ways to kill off viruses is to do away with the cell that has become their victim; preventing them from creating further copies – a task performed by specialized immune cells.


 A lifeless virus floating in space is much easier to deal with than those inside. A set of our proteins floating around in our body called antibodies act as locks that never open – they fit perfectly on the keys that viruses have and make those defective, so they can no longer infect another cell. Subsequently, the viruses are cleared away.

<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="0" class="wp-image-191894 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="191894" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="0" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_191893/0.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
 “When a virus meets antibodies”
 </figcaption>
</figure>

 Even though our system tries hard to keep this war peaceful, sometimes even more chaos ensues than what viruses would alone cause. After all, a battlefield is bound to get chaotic. Some amount of chaos is tolerated. Symptoms like cold, cough, fatigue, inflammation arise due to this chaos. Inflammation is one of the classical responses of the immune system meant to eliminate the intruder, with five cardinal signs:
 
 rubor
 
 (redness),
 
 calor
 
 (increased heat),
 
 tumor
 
 (swelling),
 
 dolor
 
 (pain) and
 
 functio laesa
 
 (disturbance of function) of the affected area of the body – things that can get out of hand as well.


 Our nemesis, COVID-19, better exemplifies this. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can infect cells of the alveoli – regions in our lungs where carbon dioxide is exchanged with oxygen from the air. A slight amount of inflammation is necessary for the lungs as they come in contact with outsiders daily. But with COVID-19, it presents a problem. It swells up the lungs and fills the alveoli with a large amount of fluid. This hinders their ability to carry out the exchange of gases and causes the body to become deficient in oxygen – leading to something called Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). As we do not have a cure yet, managing this disease currently involves providing supportive care; the patient’s lungs need to be ventilated when ARDS occurs.


 The immune system often becomes aggressive when it encounters something offending. Soldiers jump into action randomly. This happens when the intruder is unknown. But we have found a way to safely train our soldiers using vaccines – so they recognize the intruder beforehand. Vaccines are either a less harmful version of a pathogen or a version that’s not harmful at all (i.e. bits and pieces of the pathogen). Vaccination is similar to carrying out a practice drill with the immune system so that it reacts faster when it next encounters an actual intruder. That way, it eliminates the intruder even before it causes any damage!

<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="20200530_091345" class="wp-image-191897 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="191897" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"1.9","credit":"","camera":"SM-A510F","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1590829981","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.7","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.058823529411765","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20200530_091345" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_191893/20200530_091345-1.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
 “Imagine what happens in the barracks of our immune system…”
 </figcaption>
</figure>

 Efforts at developing vaccines against COVID-19 are under progress in many countries. It seems pretty straightforward to develop a vaccine as we have the data profile of the virus, but introducing them into the market, or any drug for that matter has always been a lengthy process. A long time goes into ascertaining whether a vaccine is suitable for human use without any adverse side effects. It wouldn’t be surprising if it took months and months to develop one of them successfully. So what should we do till then? The answer has already been given to us by authorities everywhere: SOCIAL DISTANCING.


 Viruses do not cause disease with intent. They reproduce to avoid getting eradicated – something every creature on this planet does. We are their host. They do not reproduce indefinitely in one host; they need others too. They get transmitted from one person to another. So we must break this ‘chain’ of transmission by denying them what they want. Social distancing is one of the only ways we have now against SARS-CoV-2. While we term it ‘social’ it involves ‘physical’ distancing. We cannot know if someone has COVID-19 just by looking at them; so in this context, we must avoid close contact with each other.


 While we speak ill of viruses, there is another side of the coin.


 _____

<h2>
 Not all are bad!
</h2>

 While they indeed make most living beings sick, viruses are beneficial too. They are a helpful force when it comes to maintaining the ecological balance. They, among other things, ensure that living beings do not increase in numbers beyond which nature can handle. After all, resources are limited and consumers many.


 Most of the biomass in oceans is contained in bacteria and other microbes. For recycling this matter into other lifeforms, this biomass needs to be released. Bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) are instrumental in this. They reproduce in and kill about 20% of these bacteria daily. The progeny phages, in turn, end up as food for other life forms, since they are nothing but proteins and nucleic acids and cannot infect someone other than their host. This also maintains their population at an optimum. That’s one of the ways biomass is continuously recycled.

<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="20200530_091313" class="wp-image-191895 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="191895" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"1.9","credit":"","camera":"SM-A510F","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1590829993","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.7","iso":"64","shutter_speed":"0.058823529411765","title":"","orientation":"6"}' data-image-title="20200530_091313" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_191893/20200530_091313.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
 “Bacteriophages – the spidermen of the virus world. Only some look like this, though.”
 </figcaption>
</figure>

 Our intestines are lined with trillions of bacteria, many of whom are beneficial to us. But beyond a limit, even they could become harmful. Our body alone would fail to maintain at optimum the number of bacteria from each species. Who better could do this job more specifically than bacteriophages? This specificity gave rise to the field of ‘phage therapy’ – the use of viruses in place of antibiotics to treat diseases caused by bacteria. While antibiotics do not increase in concentration as time passes, phages would do so as they kill more and more pathogenic bacteria. Also with the rise of drug-resistant bacteria, they may just end up becoming the new medicine!


 While a variety of bacteria have made us their home, a large number of viruses exist within us too. Some infect us, while some infect the bacteria within us. Interestingly, they form some parts of our DNA too! Once upon a time, they were viable viruses that could infect our ancestors. They needed to integrate their DNA with the DNA of our ancestors while reproducing themselves. Through some crazy turn of events, they ended up infecting sperms and eggs. Thus, their DNA was carried down through generations. With time, the viral DNA lost the ability to create a virus, remaining as relics of the past. We all are ‘part viral’…


 _____


 We do not know for sure how viruses have originated. We might understand more about our origin if we understood theirs, as they are creatures on the edge of life. Regardless of how mysterious they are, they have both good and bad aspects to them. We must cherish the uniqueness of these entities.


 We hope you have learned a thing or two about viruses from this write-up. Do not fall prey to misinformation. Stay safe and take care 🙂
 


 _____


 Written by
 
 
 Shabduli Shinde
 
 
 
 Ronak Hati
 
 
 
 Illustrations by
 
 
 Sakshee Dubal

Insight into Parasites &#8211; A &#8216;101&#8217; on Viruses

<img alt="IMG_20170911_203050" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-30790 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="30790" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1505161850","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"3787","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20170911_203050" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_30789/IMG_20170911_203050.jpg" width="169"/>
 Lying in one corner of my room was a female spider who had mated and laid eggs into a sac. I took those eggs and kept few in a cavity slide and sealed it, the remaining eggs still being inside the egg sac kept on a watch glass.
 
 You can see how one egg appears to be under foldscope. This egg is about 3 days old. One can make out some movements of the developing embryo on the 4th day.

<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 
 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/17aCdy6ADNA?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 
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 <img alt="IMG_20170911_202646" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-30791 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="30791" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1505161606","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"926","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20170911_202646" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_30789/IMG_20170911_202646.jpg" width="225"/>
 After about few days this is how the egg looked. Or rather the thing inside it looked. You can make out some structures which are going to become the legs of the spider in future.


 A bit more clear in 1-2 days later… the movements (clearly it seems to be the beating heart of embryo.

<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 
 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5TZg-CNYpsM?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 
</div>

 <img alt="IMG_20170911_213351" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-30798 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="30798" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1505165631","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"1623","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20170911_213351" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_30789/IMG_20170911_213351.jpg" width="225"/>


 Two eggs adjacent to each other
 <img alt="IMG_20170911_223457" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-30796 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="30796" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1505169297","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"1672","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20170911_223457" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_30789/IMG_20170911_223457.jpg" width="225"/>


 Embryo development and organ formation ended after a total of 10-12 days from the day of egg laying. The image below seems to show a fully formed spiderling still inside the egg. Amazing how the egg changed its shape to accomodate the spiderling.
 <img alt="IMG_20170912_181720" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-30793 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="30793" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1505240240","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"3800","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20170912_181720" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_30789/IMG_20170912_181720.jpg" width="225"/>


 The thing I missed to capture, was what was on the 14th day. On looking at the watch glass, I saw barely 2-3 spiderlings remaining. All of them soon after getting out of their eggs, ran off in random directions. I went straight to my foldscope to inspect the slide. This is what I observed.
 <img alt="IMG_20170917_163344" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-32350 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="32350" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1505666024","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"3800","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20170917_163344" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_30789/IMG_20170917_163344.jpg" width="225"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20170917_163426" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-32351 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="32351" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1505666066","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"3800","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20170917_163426" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_30789/IMG_20170917_163426.jpg" width="225"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20170917_163531" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-32352 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="32352" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1505666131","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"1485","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20170917_163531" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_30789/IMG_20170917_163531.jpg" width="225"/>


 The legs of the spiderlings, the abdomen were all covered in fine hair or setae. Eyes were eight in number (was left amazed when I saw this!)
 
 A view of the head (and four of its legs). There is a line present on its head (or rather the head and the thorax together called as the cephalothorax). This line is significant as it helps the spiderling undergo ecdysis and escape from its old exoskeleton. It is the line of ecdysial cleavage, called dorsal ecdysial line.
 
 The image appears blue because of a filter I used in my phone.
 
 <img alt="IMG_20170917_170920" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-32353 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="32353" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1505668160","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"1173","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20170917_170920" data-recalc-dims="1" height="290" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_30789/IMG_20170917_170920.jpg" width="300"/>
 
 A bit curious about the how many eyes would be present, I observed the slide under a phase contrast microscope. At 200x, this is what I saw that left me amazed : )
 <img alt="IMG_20170926_175129" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-32354 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="32354" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1506448289","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"202","shutter_speed":"0.033333333333333","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20170926_175129" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_30789/IMG_20170926_175129.jpg" width="225"/>
 Eight eyes; clusters of three were present on either side and two eyes present median in position.


 <img alt="IMG_20170917_164215" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-32355 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="32355" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1505666535","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"2182","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20170917_164215" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_30789/IMG_20170917_164215.jpg" width="298"/>


 The spiderlings still inside the slide.




 
 Ronak Hati,
 


 
 UG student,
 


 
 Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College.

From Embryo to a Cute baby&#8230;

There were some weird, tiny insects on walls of my bedroom. Wherever those would be present they’d leave some faintly dark patches on the wall. (I realise now that I should have foldscoped those too)


 There was a lizard that would often show up to eat those insects. Would eat atleast 5-10 daily. I caught the lizard and kept it in a container. Would make it eat those insects, and it did end up overeating.


 Within a few moments it ended up vomitting undigested stuff, and well the vomit is what I foldscoped.


 <img alt="IMG_20170917_123131" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-32397 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="32397" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1505651492","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"700","shutter_speed":"0.058823529411765","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20170917_123131" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_32396/IMG_20170917_123131.jpg" width="225"/>
 As you can see, there are undigested wings and legs present of those insects.


 What happened to the lizard later? It refused to eat anything for a while. Even this…


 <img alt="IMG_20170916_092330" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-32403 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="32403" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1505553811","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"873","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_20170916_092330" data-recalc-dims="1" height="750" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_32396/IMG_20170916_092330.jpg" width="1000"/>


 It had the urge to eat, but just stared at the spider and did nothing.
 
 I agree that this is a very weird post.


 
 Ronak Hati,
 


 
 UG student,
 


 
 Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College.

Nauseous? (NSFW warning)

Worms in an aquatic sample

I was curious about how chemical reactions would look like, microscopically. Particularly, combustion. However, observing one on foldscope wasn’t easy as putting the flap on would immediately extinguish any burning object. That could be solved easily by not putting the flap (it was obvious). However recording a burning object and even taking care to record it before it extinguishes was a task. Also, a prolonged burning object would actually end up melting the plastic which held the lens and making the lens come out.
 
 However, after several attempts… I began scavenging a pile of garbage of leaves and flowers I had collected before for a botany assignment. Out of that, the decomposing peduncle of
 
 Caesalpinia
 
 inflorescence satisfied the conditions. It burnt for around 5-10 seconds, not enough time to melt the plastic but enough to record the combustion.

<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 
 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cgccIdekqg8?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 
</div>

 What I did was placed the phone with video recording turned on, flipped it over. Attached the foldscope to phone. Placed two coverslips on the lens (essential to prevent melting of plastic in which the lens is placed). After setting the peduncle on fire, I immediately placed it on the coverslip right above the lens. And this is the result!


 
 Ronak Hati,
 
 
 
 UG student, Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College.
 
 


 Keep foldscoping!

Fiery foldscoping!

Observing this wasn’t planned exactly before, though boredom got the best out of me. Studying for exams were a bit tedious thing… hence this is what I did. Armed with a foldscope, all I could see was my target which was the computer screen, which had all ebooks in it which I was reading at that time.


 I took the foldscope and pressed the lens hard against the screen. And indeed it looked nice. Many people do not know this but all colours we see on screen are obtained only from three colours. Namely – red, blue and green.


 <img alt="IMG_20180304_161609_462" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-32680 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="32680" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180304_161609_462" data-recalc-dims="1" height="555" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_32679/IMG_20180304_161609_462.jpg" width="555"/>


 The RGB color model is an additive color model in which red, green and blue light are added together in various ways to reproduce a broad array of colors.  The principle of RGB lies in a phenomenon – trichromatism. Trichromacy or trichromatism is the possession of three independent channels for conveying color information, derived from three different cone cells in the eye.


 Down here is a video of blinking cursor on a Word document.

<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 
 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cPX-k87Jrb8?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 
</div>

 
 Ronak Hati,
 


 
 UG student, Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College.

Going electronic

Unlike us gigantic creatures, arthropods do not have just two simple eyes. Everything is compound in the microscopic world. A post dedicated to some of the compound eyes I have observed as per instructions in the post  https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?p=29111
 
 and also by sandwiching the specimens between a coverslip and a cavity slide.


 
 1. Housefly
 
 :
 
 
 
 <img alt="IMG_20180319_145837_060" class="aligncenter wp-image-32720 size-full gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="32720" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180319_145837_060" data-recalc-dims="1" height="780" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_32719/IMG_20180319_145837_060.jpg" width="780"/>


 The dangerous thing about this, is what it did to my room. A fly before may have laid eggs in one of the cracks in the wall that occured due to a water leakage. Several flies came out of the crack and occupied my room for a total of 6 hours. It was horrible to deal with them. I caught one and saw its compound eyes at 140x magnification.


 <img alt="IMG_20180319_145837_050" class="wp-image-32721 size-medium aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="32721" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180319_145837_050" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_32719/IMG_20180319_145837_050.jpg" width="300"/>


 Hexagonal-shaped ommatidia could be observed with a surface view.


 
 2. Unidentified mosquito species :
 
 
 This one was flying around in my room. Caught it in a zipper bag and observed its head under foldscope.

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 <img alt="IMG_20180320_221043_479" class="aligncenter wp-image-32722 size-dyad-featured-image-horz gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="32722" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180320_221043_479" data-recalc-dims="1" height="640" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_32719/IMG_20180320_221043_479.jpg" width="929"/>


 The thing here of interest is the yellow region. Any idea what function it has?


 
 3. Ensign wasps :
 
 <img alt="IMG_20180327_021926" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-32723 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="32723" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522117166","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"760","shutter_speed":"0.071428571428571","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180327_021926" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_32719/IMG_20180327_021926.jpg" width="225"/>


 This one has nice bluish-green eyes. A surface scan reveals compound eyes.


 <img alt="IMG_20180326_224845" class="aligncenter wp-image-32724 size-full gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="32724" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522104525","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"825","shutter_speed":"0.071428571428571","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180326_224845" data-recalc-dims="1" height="835" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_32719/IMG_20180326_224845.jpg" width="1000"/>


 <img alt="IMG_20180327_021628" class="aligncenter wp-image-32725 size-full gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="32725" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522116988","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"656","shutter_speed":"0.058823529411765","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180327_021628" data-recalc-dims="1" height="902" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_32719/IMG_20180327_021628.jpg" width="921"/>


 
 4. Pupa of black ants :
 


 At first what I thought were white eggs carried by worker ants, turned out to be pupae. Ants living in cracks in concrete walls usually come out if the nest inside gets overheated. That’s what happened, and I could see a large number of such ants.


 <img alt="IMG_20180324_181720" class="aligncenter wp-image-32727 size-full gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="32727" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1521915440","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"177","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180324_181720" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1333" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_32719/IMG_20180324_181720.jpg" width="1000"/>


 <img alt="IMG_20180326_103630" class="aligncenter wp-image-32728 size-full gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="32728" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522060590","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"127","shutter_speed":"0.02","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180326_103630" data-recalc-dims="1" height="794" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_32719/IMG_20180326_103630.jpg" width="1000"/>


 Foldscoped the pupa at low and high magnification, a bright source of light was needed to reveal the compound eyes. The pupa was taken in a cavity slide.


 Keep foldscoping!


 
 Ronak Hati,
 


 
 Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College, Mumbai.

Compound Eyes

I wished to observe a transverse section of the ovary of Hibiscus flower. Took a section with a shaving blade and observed it using the magnifier provided in the kit.
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 I was being told repeatedly by my botany teachers at college that it is impossible to get longitudinal section of ovule of any flower. One has to make use of a microtome to get a section. However while trying to take the transverse section, I saw something incredible. That two of the ovules had been chopped into perfect halves. Immediately I put the section into a foldscope and observed.


 <img alt="IMG_20180219_162924" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-32757 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="32757" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1519057764","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.028571428571429","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180219_162924" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_32745/IMG_20180219_162924.jpg" width="225"/>


 I had accidently ended up with a longitudinal section of ovule using just a shaving blade. Ovule was still attached to the placenta 😛
 
 This looked quite like an orthotropous ovule.

Accidental things

One thing we often do while preparing any wet mount is removing excess of mounting medium; mainly by making use of blotting paper. Wondered how blotting paper takes up the excess medium so quickly? A phenomenon called capillary action comes into play. Blotting paper consists of several hydrophilic substances and water (most common mounting media) gets attracted to it due to adhesion. Cohesion among the water molecules will drag along those water molecules not in direct contact with the material, and surface tension will hold the water together as it adheres to the surface.
 
 This causes water to move against gravity too! Something responsible to transport water upwards in plants.


 To observe capillarity, a blotting paper and red litmus paper were respectively sandwiched between coverslip and a glass slide. One end of the paper was dipped into a glassplate with water. Phone was attached to foldscope and the phenomenon recorded on video.


 
 With red litmus paper :
 

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 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ve1WtLAZ8D4?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
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 It seems as if the paper got decolorized. This makes me think about something… why not use an alkaline substance next time instead of water so that we can actually see red litmus turns blue…


 
 With blotting paper :
 

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 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m3sUiFtzqQA?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
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 Ronak Hati,
 


 
 Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College, Mumbai.

Capillary action occuring on paper

So back when I was observing water sample taken from base saucers of plant pot, all I observed were some white worms. Withdrawing a water sample from a different region of the saucers, I found something different.


 I would have discarded those white particles for some debris. However what caught my interest was when I saw those actually swimming in their own accord.

<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 
 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TEC3qdn-bPw?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
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 Using a Pastuer pipette, I took about one drop from the sample taking care to get hold on maximum of those ‘particles’. Put a drop on cavity slide and observed at low magnification.


 At first, these creatures were moving incredibly fast. Quite difficult to make out what these were, would rarely stop while still being in the field.

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 After sometime, these slowed down I was able to take a video of those.

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 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_IrfU1wznho?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
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 Would someone help in identifying these?


 
 Ronak Hati,
 


 
 Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College, Mumbai.

Unidentified creatures in a water sample!

About some weeks ago while again trying to observe combustion, the plastic that held the lens got molten and the lens popped out. I am quite grateful that Laks sir sent me another foldscope and also that he sent me polarizing filters.
 
 To obtain better images I stuck a small piece of filter on my phone camera, removed the back cover and stuck it right inside my phone. The second piece went behind the magnetic coupler on the light module. This enables me to change angle between filters while imaging any crystal.


 I tried some observations with the very chemical we throw out of our body as a waste product, urea.


 I tried recrystallizing those. Here are some images :




 <img alt="IMG_20180410_220603" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-33254 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33254" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1523397963","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"3607","shutter_speed":"0.071428571428571","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180410_220603" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33249/IMG_20180410_220603.jpg" width="169"/>


 <img alt="IMG_20180410_215704" class="aligncenter wp-image-33252 size-medium gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33252" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1523397424","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"655","shutter_speed":"0.071428571428571","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180410_215704" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33249/IMG_20180410_215704.jpg" width="209"/>


 Tried observing recrystallization, but the sample froze too quickly.


 <img alt="IMG_20180410_215710" class="aligncenter wp-image-33253 size-medium gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33253" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1523397430","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"830","shutter_speed":"0.071428571428571","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180410_215710" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33249/IMG_20180410_215710.jpg" width="249"/>


 <img alt="IMG_20180410_222812" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-33256 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33256" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1523399292","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"2551","shutter_speed":"0.071428571428571","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180410_222812" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33249/IMG_20180410_222812.jpg" width="225"/>
 
 Another attempt, melted and observed the same sample again. It froze quickly again.


 <img alt="IMG_20180410_223042" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-33258 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33258" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1523399442","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"3607","shutter_speed":"0.071428571428571","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180410_223042" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33249/IMG_20180410_223042.jpg" width="169"/>


 These here were some needle-like crystals that got formed this time along with the usual rectangular shapes.


 <img alt="IMG_20180411_022721" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-33259 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33259" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1523413641","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"1789","shutter_speed":"0.071428571428571","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180411_022721" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33249/IMG_20180411_022721.jpg" width="225"/>


 Another attempt, and guess what happened… But this time have a look at the colours…


 <img alt="IMG_20180411_023658" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-33260 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33260" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1523414218","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"2706","shutter_speed":"0.071428571428571","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180411_023658" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33249/IMG_20180411_023658.jpg" width="225"/>


 <img alt="IMG_20180411_023847" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-33261 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33261" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1523414327","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"3607","shutter_speed":"0.071428571428571","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180411_023847" data-recalc-dims="1" height="169" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33249/IMG_20180411_023847.jpg" width="300"/>


 <img alt="IMG_20180411_023915" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-33262 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33262" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1523414355","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"3607","shutter_speed":"0.071428571428571","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180411_023915" data-recalc-dims="1" height="169" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33249/IMG_20180411_023915.jpg" width="300"/>


 And then this too…


 <img alt="IMG_20180411_090442_250" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-33263 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33263" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180411_090442_250" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33249/IMG_20180411_090442_250.jpg" width="300"/>


 One question comes to my mind, why did I get more and more colors as I recrystallized the same urea again and again? Don’t know how significant of a question that is but hope to get some answers to it…

Getting the best out of a waste product

From the clothes we wear to the paper on which we write, these things are made of fibres. Fibres of polysaccharides. Just how amazing these look under a foldscope…


 <img alt="IMG_20180311_221237" class="size-medium wp-image-33492 alignleft gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33492" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1520806358","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0051813471502591","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180311_221237" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33486/IMG_20180311_221237.jpg" width="225"/>




 Paper may look smooth and uniform as viewed from the naked eye, but microscopically a different story is seen.


 <img alt="IMG_20180311_215059" class="size-medium wp-image-33493 alignright gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33493" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1520805060","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0046082949308756","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180311_215059" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33486/IMG_20180311_215059.jpg" width="225"/>






 Cotton fibres seen through a foldscope. It grows as a protective case around seeds of the cotton plant.








 One big problem almost everyone must have faced while stitching clothes, is putting a thread into the hole of needle. Why doesn’t it happen? Ask a foldscope and it will give you the answer….


 <img alt="IMG_20180325_132124" class="size-medium wp-image-33496 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33496" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1521984084","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"472","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180325_132124" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33486/IMG_20180325_132124.jpg" width="225"/>


 <img alt="IMG_20180325_131609" class="size-medium wp-image-33497 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33497" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1521983769","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"277","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180325_131609" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33486/IMG_20180325_131609.jpg" width="225"/>


 And the next one, make a guess what it is (hint : definitely not a plant part)


 <img alt="IMG_20180320_224339" class="aligncenter wp-image-33494 size-full gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33494" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1521585819","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"125","shutter_speed":"2.1177467174926E-5","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180320_224339" data-recalc-dims="1" height="950" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33486/IMG_20180320_224339.jpg" width="1000"/>


 <img alt="IMG_20180320_224452" class="aligncenter wp-image-33495 size-large gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33495" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1521585892","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"112","shutter_speed":"4.2354934349852E-5","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180320_224452" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33486/IMG_20180320_224452.jpg" width="768"/>


 Last but not the least, is the diffuser sheet that was provided in the foldscope kit. Laks sir pointed out that one can make use of this to find out spherical aberration of the lens. Spherical aberration is clearly visible in this image…


 <img alt="IMG_20180321_125207" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-33498 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33498" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1521636729","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"2551","shutter_speed":"0.071428571428571","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180321_125207" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33486/IMG_20180321_125207.jpg" width="888"/>

Fun time with fibres and other things

Animals aren’t unique when it comes to having things growing on their skin. Plants have an even bizarre set of things growing on their skin too, some of which secrete chemicals that are secondary metabolites. Foldscoping these reveal things about what ‘hair’ they have!


 Some of the explorations as follows :


 
 1.
 
 Cucurbita maxima
 
 :
 


 A transverse section of petiole reveals presence if several bristles, glandular and non-glandular trichomes…


 <img alt="IMG_20180201_183416" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-33987 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33987" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1517510056","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.01","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180201_183416" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180201_183416.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180201_183510" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-33988 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33988" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1517510110","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0053191489361702","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180201_183510" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180201_183510.jpg" width="885"/>


 <img alt="IMG_20180201_183727" class="aligncenter wp-image-33989 size-large gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33989" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1517510248","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.01123595505618","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180201_183727" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180201_183727.jpg" width="955"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180201_183941" class="aligncenter wp-image-33991 size-large gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33991" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1517510381","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.017543859649123","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180201_183941" data-recalc-dims="1" height="918" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180201_183941.jpg" width="1000"/>


 Some images not from a foldscope, at magnifications 40x and 200x


 <img alt="IMG_20180202_102348" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-33994 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33994" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1517567028","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"926","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180202_102348" data-recalc-dims="1" height="932" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180202_102348.jpg" width="1000"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180202_102247" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-33995 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="33995" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1517566967","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"700","shutter_speed":"0.05","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180202_102247" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180202_102247.jpg" width="865"/>


 How about directly observing leaves in a foldscope using a very bright source of light? (warning : large number of beautiful images incoming!)


 <img alt="IMG_20180327_131735" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-34005 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34005" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522156656","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0016835016835017","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180327_131735" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180327_131735.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180327_131840" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-34006 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34006" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522156720","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"147","shutter_speed":"0.02","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180327_131840" data-recalc-dims="1" height="750" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180327_131840.jpg" width="1000"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180327_132054" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-34007 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34007" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522156855","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"694","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180327_132054" data-recalc-dims="1" height="750" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180327_132054.jpg" width="1000"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180327_132131" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-34008 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34008" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522156891","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"654","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180327_132131" data-recalc-dims="1" height="750" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180327_132131.jpg" width="1000"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180327_132248" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-34009 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34009" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522156968","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"103","shutter_speed":"0.01","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180327_132248" data-recalc-dims="1" height="750" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180327_132248.jpg" width="1000"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180327_132259" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-34010 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34010" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522156979","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0046082949308756","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180327_132259" data-recalc-dims="1" height="750" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180327_132259.jpg" width="1000"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180327_132308" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-34011 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34011" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522156989","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"146","shutter_speed":"0.01","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180327_132308" data-recalc-dims="1" height="750" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180327_132308.jpg" width="1000"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180327_133355" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-34013 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34013" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522157635","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.008695652173913","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180327_133355" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180327_133355.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180327_133416" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-34014 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34014" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522157656","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"407","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180327_133416" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180327_133416.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180327_133529" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-34015 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34015" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522157729","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0023419203747073","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180327_133529" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180327_133529.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180327_135227" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34016 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34016" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522158747","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"106","shutter_speed":"0.01","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180327_135227" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180327_135227.jpg" width="768"/>


 Now I very well know why my hand felt numb when for the first time I held the leaf in my hand. But, what did these glands secrete?


 
 2.
 
 Murraya koenigii
 
 (known as Curry leaves commonly) :
 


 The plant bears pinnately compound leaves, what has the rachis got to offer?


 <img alt="IMG_20180124_192838" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-34001 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34001" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1516822119","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0029761904761905","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180124_192838" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180124_192838.jpg" width="793"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180125_092538556296" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-34002 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34002" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1516872338","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"700","shutter_speed":"0.03448275862069","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180125_092538556296" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180125_092538556296.jpg" width="667"/>




 
 3.
 
 Cynodon dactylon
 
 (or the grass that people usually stamp on when they walk…) :
 


 I did not have any other place to store the grass leaf that I had collected, where I kept it was on a bottle filled with water. The leaf was partially immersed in water. I forgot about it, and a few days later noticed roots growing out of it.


 <img alt="IMG_20180202_150042" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34021 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34021" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1517583642","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"985","shutter_speed":"0.071428571428571","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180202_150042" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180202_150042.jpg" width="576"/>


 
 Do you notice some hair-like things growing from the region where the root originated at the base of leaf?  Thinking what purpose these serve…
 


 <img alt="IMG_20180206_214848" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34023 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34023" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1517953728","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"146","shutter_speed":"0.033333333333333","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180206_214848" data-recalc-dims="1" height="968" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180206_214848.jpg" width="1000"/>




 
 4.
 
 Ocimum sanctum
 
 (or the holy basil or Tulsi) :
 


 The petiole is quite hairy. This is how they’d look like through a foldscope.


 <img alt="IMG_20180122_170329" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34026 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34026" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1516640610","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0068965517241379","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180122_170329" data-recalc-dims="1" height="920" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180122_170329.jpg" width="1000"/>


 <img alt="IMG_20180122_172436" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34029 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34029" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1516641877","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0067114093959732","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180122_172436" data-recalc-dims="1" height="906" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180122_172436.jpg" width="1000"/>


 An image of the leaf that is worthy of sharing on halloween.


 <img alt="IMG_20180323_184735" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34031 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34031" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1521830855","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"799","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180323_184735" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180323_184735.jpg" width="880"/>


 
 Tulsi
 
 plants have quite a characteristic aroma, right? This thing here is most likely responsible for that…


 <img alt="IMG_20180323_224035" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34034 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34034" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1521844835","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"321","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180323_224035" data-recalc-dims="1" height="898" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180323_224035.jpg" width="1000"/>




 
 5. Last but not the least, one of the bizarre forms of hair –
 
 Thespesia populnea :
 
 


 The petiole of the leaf is covered with brown dust-like particles. These look pretty interesting microscopically just like a flower. Scrape these off, put them in a drop of water and observe.


 <img alt="IMG_20180328_160133" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34038 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34038" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522252893","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"110","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180328_160133" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180328_160133.jpg" width="817"/>


 These are also present on the surface of leaf, attached to veins and veinlets.


 <img alt="IMG_20180329_144354" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34039 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34039" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522334634","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"3612","shutter_speed":"0.071428571428571","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180329_144354" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180329_144354.jpg" width="768"/>


 And here I introduce a way to get better contrasted, beautiful images. Just use some software filters present in mobile camera, like the Negative filter.


 <img alt="IMG_20180328_162411" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34042 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34042" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522254251","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"760","shutter_speed":"0.071428571428571","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180328_162411" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1019" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180328_162411.jpg" width="1000"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180328_161808" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34043 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34043" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522253889","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"351","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180328_161808" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_33984/IMG_20180328_161808.jpg" width="768"/>


 (Apologies for making it too long a post…)


 
 Regards,
 


 
 Ronak Hati, Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College.

We have hair, they have things bizarre&#8230;

Took some matured leaflets from a
 
 Nephrolepis
 
 plant growing at our college and scraped the brown sacs (the sori) on its lower epidermis over the mud of my plant pots at home with an aim to disperse spores. The next day found some heart-shaped, tiny, green structures growing on the mud. Foldscoping those, it did seem like I grew gametophytes at home.
 
 Some of the pictures :


 <img alt="IMG_20180326_125046" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34603 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34603" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522068647","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"194","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180326_125046" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34597/IMG_20180326_125046.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180326_125053" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34604 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34604" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522068653","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"127","shutter_speed":"0.02","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180326_125053" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34597/IMG_20180326_125053.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180326_125556" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34609 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34609" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522068956","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"395","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180326_125556" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34597/IMG_20180326_125556.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180326_125448" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34606 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34606" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522068888","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"205","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180326_125448" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34597/IMG_20180326_125448.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180326_125059" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34605 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34605" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522068659","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"142","shutter_speed":"0.01","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180326_125059" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34597/IMG_20180326_125059.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180326_105825" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34602 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34602" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522061905","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"152","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180326_105825" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34597/IMG_20180326_105825.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180326_125613" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34610 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34610" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522068973","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"224","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180326_125613" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34597/IMG_20180326_125613.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180326_125621" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34598 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34598" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522068982","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"294","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180326_125621" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34597/IMG_20180326_125621.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180326_125641" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34599 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34599" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522069001","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"302","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180326_125641" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34597/IMG_20180326_125641.jpg" width="768"/>


 I expected to see gametes too, but did not see any. Chloroplasts are clearly visible and also the fact that gametophytes of
 
 Nephrolepis
 
 comprise only a monolayer of cells!


 
 Regards,
 


 
 A foldscopist.

Fern gametophytes?

Stomates/stomata are pores present on epidermis of plant parts that facilitate gaseous exchange. This pore is bounded by guard cells which are modified parenchyma cells that regulate size of stomatal opening.
 
 Some playing with plants at home and one interesting plant at college led to these images.


 —————————————–


 <img alt="IMG_20180228_220014" class="size-large wp-image-34834 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34834" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1519855214","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0056497175141243","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180228_220014" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34828/IMG_20180228_220014.jpg" width="878"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180201_164605" class="size-large wp-image-34835 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34835" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1517503565","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0016835016835017","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180201_164605" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34828/IMG_20180201_164605.jpg" width="684"/>
 
 Stomata on leaves of
 
 Catharanthus roseus,
 
 
 same epidermal peel stained with 1% Methylene Blue


 <img alt="IMG_20180408_170029" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34837 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34837" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1523206829","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"532","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180408_170029" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34828/IMG_20180408_170029.jpg" width="831"/>
 ———————————–


 As the name
 
 
 Excoecaria bicolor
 
 
 suggests, the plant has leaves with upper part green and lower part red. What must be the purpose of having a red bottom? Anyway, moving on to the images…


 <img alt="IMG_20180303_174743" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34840 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34840" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1520099263","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"655","shutter_speed":"0.071428571428571","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180303_174743" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34828/IMG_20180303_174743.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180303_175430" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34842 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34842" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1520099670","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0031446540880503","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180303_175430" data-recalc-dims="1" height="750" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34828/IMG_20180303_175430.jpg" width="1000"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180303_180300" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34843 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34843" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1520100180","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"131","shutter_speed":"0.02","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180303_180300" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34828/IMG_20180303_180300.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180303_225808" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34847 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34847" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1520117888","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0077519379844961","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180303_225808" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34828/IMG_20180303_225808.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180303_182217_43" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34844 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34844" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1520101344","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"139","shutter_speed":"0.02","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180303_182217_43" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34828/IMG_20180303_182217_43.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180303_182852" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34845 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34845" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1520101756","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"106","shutter_speed":"0.02","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180303_182852" data-recalc-dims="1" height="750" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34828/IMG_20180303_182852.jpg" width="1000"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180303_183116" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34846 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34846" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1520101876","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"137","shutter_speed":"0.01","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180303_183116" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34828/IMG_20180303_183116.jpg" width="768"/>

<hr/>

 —————————————


 Did not expect to see stomata in the fleshy onion bulb that we consume. The epidermis surely had things to offer. It is however expected to find stomata over there, since those are nothing but modified scale leaves!


 <img alt="IMG_20180411_145015" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34848 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34848" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1523458216","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"720","shutter_speed":"0.058823529411765","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180411_145015" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34828/IMG_20180411_145015.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180411_145217" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34849 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34849" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1523458337","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"699","shutter_speed":"0.058823529411765","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180411_145217" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34828/IMG_20180411_145217.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180411_145756" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34850 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34850" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1523458677","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"880","shutter_speed":"0.071428571428571","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180411_145756" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34828/IMG_20180411_145756.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180411_150111" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34851 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="34851" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1523458871","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"675","shutter_speed":"0.071428571428571","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180411_150111" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_34828/IMG_20180411_150111.jpg" width="768"/>


 So leaving behind questions for you all foldscopers. How’d stomata look like on other bulbs? Is it possible for one to use stomata to identify plants? How about setting up a ‘stomata database’?

Stomates!

About a month ago had visited a beach at Juhu, Mumbai. The reason was a talk at Prithvi theatre – Chai and Why? I hope most of the Mumbai-residents here might know about it. So after the talk, went to Juhu beach and collected some sea water. It was wonderful to have seen such a clean beach.


 <img alt="IMG_20180401_143923" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-35025 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="35025" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522593564","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.00034940600978337","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180401_143923" data-recalc-dims="1" height="750" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_35024/IMG_20180401_143923.jpg" width="1000"/>


 The sea water was collected in a plastic bag (superuser Mitali might know….) and is being stored in a plastic bottle. Initially I withdrew some sample directly from the bottle and observed. All I got to see were some sand grains.
 <img alt="IMG_20180401_202911" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-35026 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="35026" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522614552","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0068965517241379","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180401_202911" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_35024/IMG_20180401_202911.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180401_202944" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-35027 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="35027" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522614585","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"152","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180401_202944" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_35024/IMG_20180401_202944.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180401_203053" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-35028 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="35028" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522614653","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"635","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180401_203053" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_35024/IMG_20180401_203053.jpg" width="768"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180401_203101" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-35029 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="35029" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522614661","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"113","shutter_speed":"0.02","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180401_203101" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_35024/IMG_20180401_203101.jpg" width="768"/>


 Quite interesting shapes and patterns they have on them, don’t they? I wonder how and why they have these.


 My initial expectations were to get to see some protozoans. However found no sign of any living organisms in the initial mounts. Later took some of the sea water into a tray and using the magnifier began looking for any sign of movement. That’s when  I came across these creatures referred to as zooplanktons…


 .
 <img class="SzDcob aligncenter" height="637" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/WG5NLuvUZWJ9P4Y8nnrfKoeY8-ELG4klARFIjEIES3oD00Uig9c2SQKHE65jFW3_MlzP8_0U-YbvJHXxZLGRI1hduI4RNSh3iEsVWFGDAo_MgeS5eWEUxkfM5BloQUyvCH1gxi-Q-K2qW-fDMqtZIAHKc2Tfg9H30u0I7zuevwvLdQ4JrN0wZLgnNnM0eedzktjsOj8smnfN9QIYXm_Vuyae4B-BNtqxr_KAKZuKdptG9_12ehXTXeA0cDAVKRWbpUfO2_TMpUSBquodX3ZfkspmXM67j6kvV2CFl6TG9Ctpli-5epWYQ3XlW6CU001iR4pd-GW8qXaLR0bNIa7ym62AFApod9kcLTgBktXxK37Iip3UX07GsViS9Pxl1kGzPa-66Z3YJI9gJHYP2R8CgkMhVaJMmezVjcphb-7kNcEghKBIfFV8qOJkkkqSI2NLDC6VVe0d1RulPItU61Krx1wRqMBvl8p55qeJHuCc2VM8Nta9K3SNDa8MJ3Ss319qqEbaliqahyEv_mdvQXsk-Ks6xwKH2hqUk8HL7wJEdDZ0kDjWDODhz8qRXogrFQpVIQ-7i39NBdGZ2UzPBYhExx6EvBjvDVnRBB1V049l=w478-h637-no" width="478"/>


 The water was full of krills as was observed!

<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 
 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yBp8G7HRdEE?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 
</div>

 It was fun to keep watching those tiny little krills swimming around. I used mobile flashlight to be able to observe them. To observe better, I placed the light source below and lo! All the krills were getting attracted to the light source and swimming around it. There there, I got a way to be able to pick them up easily from the water. I placed some on a watch glass and attempted to keep light source away from the water. Found them to try and jump out of the water in watch glass.


 Finally after some playtime, I observed one of these under foldscope. It did not show any movement whilst on the glass slide.


 <img alt="IMG_20180401_234909" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-35030 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="35030" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522626550","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"150","shutter_speed":"0.01","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180401_234909" data-recalc-dims="1" height="750" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_35024/IMG_20180401_234909.jpg" width="1000"/>


 While experimenting with light, I found another creature that preferred to stay at bottom. In the video, it may look like an omlette with a black centre.

<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 
 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UOsJZeP-yZs?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 
</div>

 Very carefully picked it up using a Pasteur pipette and prepared a mount on PVC slide. This one chose not to stay still.

<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 
 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/swdRXKZB5oM?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 
</div>

 A little while later when I observed it I found that it shed its exoskeleton. It seems as if this is a larva of some organism. Please let me know the identity if anyone can identify it.


 <img alt="IMG_20180402_005720" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-35031 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="35031" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522630640","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"674","shutter_speed":"0.04","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180402_005720" data-recalc-dims="1" height="750" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_35024/IMG_20180402_005720.jpg" width="1000"/>


 Some more time later, it became totally stationary, except for its arms (arms or whatever it is called, please let me know) which revealed to have several rows of cilia on them. Notice how it creates a water current. Definitely this is how it feeds itself.

<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 
 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bwvxQnPmIGo?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 
</div>
<hr/>

 ———————————————–


 Keep foldscoping and more!

The Salty Microcosmos &#8211; 1

Centrifugation was a really good idea to get out those protozoans from sea water. So I centrifugated the sea water and used the denser parts at bottom of the tubes for observation. I added two rice grains to the centrifugate and observed after a day.
 
 Some observations :

<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 
 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p3qCfBgn59k?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 
</div>
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 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BXuASSnL4vs?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 
</div>

 Added a drop of 1% Methylene Blue to the sample just for fun. Saw that it turned entirely blue. However within a few hours it went back to being colorless. Not just that, protozoans were flourishing in the sample. Some even took up the dye within them…

<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 
 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IcSc62c6_0I?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 
</div>
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 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i9SnrbdvQyU?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 
</div>
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 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aiG-m9NOTgw?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 
</div>

 The ones in last video were alive for more than three weeks!


 ——————————————-


 To be continued…

The Salty Microcosmos &#8211; 2

Directly attaching the foldscope lens to a mobile phone is a great thing. Allows to observe surfaces. Using mobile phone flashlight, I illuminated my own skin while simultaneously trying to locate hair follicles. And here I have found one.


 <img alt="IMG_20180324_014540" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35442 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="35442" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1521855940","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"2691","shutter_speed":"0.071428571428571","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180324_014540" data-recalc-dims="1" height="563" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_35494/IMG_20180324_014540.jpg" width="1000"/>


 That hair surface doesn’t look as smooth as our expectations, right? Indeed microscopicallyit is visible that every such smooth-looking surface has some or the other faults and hence not uniform.


 Also, a hair follicle present quite near to my birthmark.


 <img alt="IMG_20180324_014516" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35497 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="35497" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1521855916","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"3607","shutter_speed":"0.071428571428571","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180324_014516" data-recalc-dims="1" height="563" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_35494/IMG_20180324_014516.jpg" width="1000"/>

Observing the origin of hair via epiillumination

By now you all must have understood about the love I have for the plant pots I have at home. And also the fact that I rarely get out…
 
 I had these things growing in one of my plant pots.


 <img alt="IMG_20180330_180706" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35531 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="35531" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180330_180706" data-recalc-dims="1" height="637" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_35523/IMG_20180330_180706.jpg" width="478"/>


 Foldscoping the blue stuff (it was difficult to separate it from the mud), I got to these images.


 <img alt="IMG_20180330_153116" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35532 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="35532" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522423876","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"351","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180330_153116" data-recalc-dims="1" height="750" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_35523/IMG_20180330_153116.jpg" width="1000"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180330_154107" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35533 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="35533" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522424467","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"152","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180330_154107" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1333" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_35523/IMG_20180330_154107.jpg" width="1000"/>
 
 Does it seem when you look at those blue filaments, that they are made up of several smaller cells?
 
 Now, once I use the negative and solarize software filters on my mobile camera….


 <img alt="IMG_20180330_175337" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35534 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="35534" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522432417","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0043668122270742","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180330_175337" data-recalc-dims="1" height="793" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_35523/IMG_20180330_175337.jpg" width="1000"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180330_180320" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35535 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="35535" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522433001","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0063291139240506","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180330_180320" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1446" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_35523/IMG_20180330_180320.jpg" width="1000"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180330_180326" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35536 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="35536" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522433006","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0063291139240506","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180330_180326" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1374" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_35523/IMG_20180330_180326.jpg" width="1000"/>
 
 First two images are what is the negative effect, the third one is what is the solarize effect. Are you able to see cells on the filament now?


 <img alt="IMG_20180330_180326454476" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35537 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="35537" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1522433006","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0063291139240506","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180330_180326454476" data-recalc-dims="1" height="947" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_35523/IMG_20180330_180326454476.jpg" width="978"/>


 Try playing with other such filters in your own phones to get better details! : )

A simple way to observe &#8216;invisible&#8217; structures!

<img alt="IMG_20180304_185716" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-36237 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="36237" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1520189836","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"182","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180304_185716" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1333" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_36236/IMG_20180304_185716.jpg" width="1000"/>


 A small post dedicated to the cute little pest that shares its meal with humans. Meet the rice weevil…

Forewings of a rice weevil

These green structures were growing on mud. What are the chances that this is a species of Spirogyra?


 <img alt="IMG_20180222_192502" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-38891 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="38891" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1519327503","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"848","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180222_192502" data-recalc-dims="1" height="750" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_38888/IMG_20180222_192502.jpg" width="1000"/>
 <img alt="IMG_20180222_192453" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-38890 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="38890" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1519327493","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"700","shutter_speed":"0.055555555555556","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180222_192453" data-recalc-dims="1" height="750" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_38888/IMG_20180222_192453.jpg" width="1000"/>


 Looking at this, it seemed like sexual reproduction was going to occur…


 <img alt="IMG_20180222_193541" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-38892 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="38892" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"AO5510","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1519328141","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"326","shutter_speed":"0.033333333333333","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180222_193541" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1333" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_38888/IMG_20180222_193541.jpg" width="1000"/>


 And its cell wall shows birefringence!


 <img alt="IMG_20180404_015238" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-38893 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="38893" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20180404_015238" data-recalc-dims="1" height="637" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_38888/IMG_20180404_015238.jpg" width="478"/>




 Lurking in these algal jungle was a creature strange. It was a rare sight that I could get to see only twice. the second time I recorded it. Is it a rotifer?

<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 
 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nD-pA_Dydu4?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 
</div>

 Once I had grown a twig of a weed in a glass beaker. It survived for several days. One day I had dropped a bunch of these thread-like structures in the beaker. The next day that weed died and shrivelled totally. I wonder if there is a relation between the two…

Are these Spirogyra and Rotifer?

It’s been quite a long while since I last posted here…


 A small play with polarizing filters and the fern rhizome slides provided in deluxe foldscope kits, I came up with these images ::


 <img alt="IMG_20181028_171417_HDR" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-79853 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="79853" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1540746857","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"160","shutter_speed":"0.02","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20181028_171417_HDR" data-recalc-dims="1" height="2000" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_79847/IMG_20181028_171417_HDR.jpg" width="1000"/>


 <img alt="IMG_20181028_170632_HDR" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-79852 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="79852" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1540746392","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"640","shutter_speed":"0.04","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20181028_170632_HDR" data-recalc-dims="1" height="2000" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_79847/IMG_20181028_170632_HDR.jpg" width="1000"/>


 <img alt="IMG_20181028_171845_HDR" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-79851 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="79851" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1540747125","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.02","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20181028_171845_HDR" data-recalc-dims="1" height="2000" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_79847/IMG_20181028_171845_HDR.jpg" width="1000"/>


 <img alt="IMG_20181028_170750_HDR" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-79850 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="79850" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1540746470","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.81","iso":"400","shutter_speed":"0.04","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20181028_170750_HDR" data-recalc-dims="1" height="2000" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_79847/IMG_20181028_170750_HDR.jpg" width="1000"/>


 I’d want to know which dyes were used in staining as these seem to rotate plane of polarised light.


 It’d be quite amazing to use such dyes and observe the prepared slides using polarizing filters !


 More images would be coming up soon!

Ronak Hati

Earth

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