Manali Nayak

<p>
 I have often observed a cluster of tiny whitish organisms growing in the hydra culture that I maintain at the lab. While the hydra adhere to the bottom of the beaker/dish, these float on the water surface. At first, I thought it was a sort of contamination, but the culture always seemed pretty healthy. Here’s an image taken when I observed it through my Foldscope:
</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_20181114_105848" class="wp-image-108046 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="108046" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"1500","shutter_speed":"0.1","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20181114_105848" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_108036/IMG_20181114_105848.jpg"/>
</figure>
<p>
 They looked like some kind of mites to me, and when I tried to look for info online, I found an old post on Microcosmos where someone had found an identical looking organism in his/her freshwater aquarium. This was the first time I truly appreciated how awesome the idea of a Foldscope community is, and how we’re all connected through our mini discoveries!
</p>
<p>
 Anyway, I still haven’t figured out what exactly these are, and based on the older post, I’m choosing to call these guys water mites.
</p>
<figure class="wp-block-video">
 <video alt="VID-20181221-WA0007.mp4" class="gcloudimg" controls="" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_108036/VID-20181221-WA0007.mp4">
 </video>
 <figcaption>
  A video of the mites taken through Foldscope
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>
 <br/>
 Point to be noted, the culture dish is kept in an 18 degrees C incubator, sometimes shared with drosophila stocks of another lab. Could their growth have to do something with that? And what are those long hair-like structures meant for? They seem to keep it afloat, but could it be for something else specifically? And how do they get into the culture in the first place? Waiting to know!
</p>


Water mites in hydra culture

<p>
 I plucked out some parts from the center of a marigold flower. Some are evidently the stamens, but there are structures which – upon magnification with Foldscope – appear to bear sacs filled with liquid, possibly nectar.
</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_20181221_114206" class="wp-image-112818 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="112818" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.04","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20181221_114206" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_112808/IMG_20181221_114206.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
  <br/>
  These are my samples: the parts on top portion of the tissue look like anthers, but I am not sure what the curled structures below them are.
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>
 Following are the curled structures upon magnification:
</p>
<div class="wp-block-image">
 <figure class="aligncenter is-resized">
  <img alt="IMG_20181221_113453" class="wp-image-112819 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="112819" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"1500","shutter_speed":"0.1","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20181221_113453" height="585" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_112808/IMG_20181221_113453.jpg" width="439"/>
 </figure>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-image">
 <figure class="aligncenter is-resized">
  <img alt="IMG_20181221_113829" class="wp-image-112820 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="112820" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.0625","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20181221_113829" height="591" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_112808/IMG_20181221_113829.jpg" width="443"/>
 </figure>
</div>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_20181221_114130" class="wp-image-112821 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="112821" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"1500","shutter_speed":"0.1","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20181221_114130" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_112808/IMG_20181221_114130-1.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
  The nectar-bearing structures
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_20181221_123420" class="wp-image-112823 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="112823" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"700","shutter_speed":"0.04","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20181221_123420" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_112808/IMG_20181221_123420.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
  Pollen grains surrounding the anther
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>
 I like how pretty and gem-like these look under Foldscope. I might have identified them incorrectly, though – so let me know!
</p>


Pretty Things on a Marigold Flower

<p>
 I’ve been noticing these odd, insect-like things on my softboard for quite a long time now. I hadn’t been brave enough to touch them, but since they hadn’t moved in forever, I decided to take a closer look.
</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized">
 <img alt="IMG_20190411_232838" class="wp-image-144261 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="144261" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.083333333333333","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190411_232838" data-recalc-dims="1" height="321" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_144260/IMG_20190411_232838.jpg" width="233"/>
 <figcaption>
  The moulted exoskeleton of an insect I found on my softboard
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>
 While I mounted it on my slide with forceps, I realized that it was flimsy, and seemed transparent. It appeared to be the exoskeleton shed off by some insect.
</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_20190411_233244" class="wp-image-144262 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="144262" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.1","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190411_233244" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_144260/IMG_20190411_233244.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
  A closer look: what could those bubble-like holes be? Places where the hair have fallen off, or openings for the spiracles, through which the insect breathes?
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_20190411_234201" class="wp-image-144264 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="144264" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"300","shutter_speed":"0.04","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190411_234201" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_144260/IMG_20190411_234201.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
  Insect exoskeletons are made up of chitin – is that what gives it this crystalline appearance?
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_20190411_233726" class="wp-image-144263 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="144263" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"1500","shutter_speed":"0.1","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190411_233726" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_144260/IMG_20190411_233726.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
  This seems to be the head
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_20190411_235211" class="wp-image-144265 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="144265" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"1500","shutter_speed":"0.1","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190411_235211" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_144260/IMG_20190411_235211.jpg"/>
</figure>


Molted exoskeleton of an insect

<p>
 It was a great experience organizing this workshop for school students in Pune at the National Centre for Microbial Resource (NCMR-NCCS) with Dr. Praveen Rahi’s help. The students had a great time, and it was wonderful to see the excitement on their faces as they assembled their Foldscope and viewed all sorts of samples. I hope to have many such events through my outreach program, Launchpad in future!
</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="Foldscope workshop group photo" class="wp-image-146232 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="146232" 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="Foldscope workshop group photo" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_146230/Foldscope-workshop-group-photo.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
  With our enthusiastic participants and their Foldscopes!
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped" data-carousel-extra='{"blog_id":1,"permalink":"https:\/\/microcosmos.foldscope.com\/?p=146230"}'>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="Assembly" class="wp-image-146259 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="146259" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="146259" 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="Assembly" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=146259" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_146230/Assembly-1.jpg"/>
   <figcaption>
    Foldscope assembly
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="Photo from Manali Nayak (2)" class="wp-image-146260 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="146260" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="146260" 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="Photo from Manali Nayak (2)" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=146260" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_146230/Photo-from-Manali-Nayak-2.jpg"/>
  </figure>
 </li>
</ul>
<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped" data-carousel-extra='{"blog_id":1,"permalink":"https:\/\/microcosmos.foldscope.com\/?p=146230"}'>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="Viewing image" class="wp-image-146233 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="146233" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="146233" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"600","shutter_speed":"0.04","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="Viewing image" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_146230/Viewing-image.jpg"/>
   <figcaption>
    Enjoying the slow death of an ant 😛
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="IMG-20190429-WA0002" class="wp-image-146256 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="146256" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="146256" 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-20190429-WA0002" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=146256" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_146230/IMG-20190429-WA0002-1.jpg"/>
   <figcaption>
    An intense observer
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="Sample preparation" class="wp-image-146257 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="146257" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="146257" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"700","shutter_speed":"0.04","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="Sample preparation" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=146257" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_146230/Sample-preparation.jpg"/>
   <figcaption>
    Wet sample preparation
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
</ul>
<p>
 Here are some slides made by the students:
</p>
<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped" data-carousel-extra='{"blog_id":1,"permalink":"https:\/\/microcosmos.foldscope.com\/?p=146230"}'>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="IMG_20190428_123620" class="wp-image-146235 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="146235" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="146235" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"700","shutter_speed":"0.0625","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190428_123620" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_146230/IMG_20190428_123620.jpg"/>
   <figcaption>
    Pollen grains of a flower
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="IMG_20190428_123742" class="wp-image-146239 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="146239" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="146239" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"1200","shutter_speed":"0.1","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190428_123742" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=146239" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_146230/IMG_20190428_123742-2.jpg"/>
   <figcaption>
    Spider lily pollen grains
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="IMG_20190428_135455" class="wp-image-146244 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="146244" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="146244" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"1500","shutter_speed":"0.1","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190428_135455" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=146244" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_146230/IMG_20190428_135455.jpg"/>
   <figcaption>
    Body of an insect
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="IMG_20190428_125045" class="wp-image-146248 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="146248" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="146248" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"1500","shutter_speed":"0.1","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190428_125045" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=146248" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_146230/IMG_20190428_125045-3.jpg"/>
   <figcaption>
    Spider lily petal
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="IMG_20190428_122921_1" class="wp-image-146250 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="146250" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="146250" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"1100","shutter_speed":"0.1","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190428_122921_1" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=146250" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_146230/IMG_20190428_122921_1-2.jpg"/>
   <figcaption>
    Part of a stem (bubbles?!)
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="IMG_20190428_142717" class="wp-image-146252 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="146252" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="146252" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"1100","shutter_speed":"0.1","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190428_142717" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=146252" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_146230/IMG_20190428_142717.jpg"/>
   <figcaption>
    Mosquito wing
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="IMG_20190428_145405" class="wp-image-146253 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="146253" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="146253" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0030674846625767","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190428_145405" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=146253" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_146230/IMG_20190428_145405-1.jpg"/>
   <figcaption>
    Pond water sample
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="IMG_20190428_145504" class="wp-image-146254 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="146254" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="146254" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.0023364485981308","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190428_145504" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=146254" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_146230/IMG_20190428_145504.jpg"/>
   <figcaption>
    Pond water sample
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
 <li class="blocks-gallery-item">
  <figure>
   <img alt="IMG_20190428_140423" class="wp-image-146255 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="146255" data-comments-opened="1" data-id="146255" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"2014818","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1039348800","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.85","iso":"1300","shutter_speed":"0.1","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190428_140423" data-link="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?attachment_id=146255" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_146230/IMG_20190428_140423-2.jpg"/>
   <figcaption>
    Bract of Bougainvillea
   </figcaption>
  </figure>
 </li>
</ul>


28th April, 2019: Foldscope workshop at NCMR, Pune

<p>
 Hi! I’m Manali Nayak from Pune, India.  I’m a high school graduate and am interning at a stem cell biology lab at NCCS, Pune. I’ve been super excited about Foldscope and finally got one from Dr. Praveen Rahi, NCMR, Pune.
</p>
<p>
 My first post is a video of artemia larvae. Artemia are aquatic crustaceans, also known as brine shrimp. I am maintaining a hydra culture in the lab I work in, and the larvae serve as the feed for the culture. Since hydra are sedentary, they paralyze any larvae that come their way with their nematocysts, wrap their prey with their tentacles, and engulf them. The larvae are really tiny, so I decided to take a better look at their structure through my Foldscope. It was a little hard capturing the video since they keep swimming out of the field. Suggestions are welcome!
</p>
<div class="wp-video" style="width: 720px;">
 
 <video class="wp-video-shortcode" controls="controls" height="1280" id="video-80199-1" preload="metadata" width="720">
  <source alt="VID-20181031-WA0003.mp4" class="gcloudimg" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_80199/VID-20181031-WA0003.mp4" type="video/mp4"/>
  <a alt="VID-20181031-WA0003.mp4" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_80199/VID-20181031-WA0003.mp4">
   https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/VID-20181031-WA0003.mp4
  </a>
 </video>
</div>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p class="winnower-cite-link">
 <a href="https://thewinnower.com/papers/9622-artemia-larvae" target="_blank">
  This post is open to read and review on The Winnower.
 </a>
</p>

Manali Nayak

Earth

Posts

Pretty Things on a Marigold Flower

Molted exoskeleton of an insect

28th April, 2019: Foldscope workshop at NCMR, Pune

Artemia Larvae

Water mites in hydra culture

Pretty Things on a Marigold Flower

Molted exoskeleton of an insect

28th April, 2019: Foldscope workshop at NCMR, Pune

Artemia Larvae

Water mites in hydra culture

Pretty Things on a Marigold Flower

Molted exoskeleton of an insect

28th April, 2019: Foldscope workshop at NCMR, Pune

Artemia Larvae

Locations

Statistics

Type of Sample

Foldscope Lens Magnification