Zafir Abou-Zamzam

<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="Rec Sample" class="wp-image-141119 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="141119" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 6","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1554756979","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.15","iso":"250","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"6"}' data-image-title="Rec Sample" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_141049/Rec-Sample.jpg"/>
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 An image of pond water obtained by the TAs earlier today from a pond on campus.
 
 
 The sample was obtained between 8am and 8pm on 4/8/19, using a device capable of capturing water. A slide was then prepared by dropping the pond water on a transparent sheet, and the photo was taken through a foldscope using an iPhone – hence the poor quality.
 
 
 The black spots are some sort of organism or dust particle in pond water, but this is difficult to tell from this image. Moving forward some questions I would like answered are:
 
 
 What type of organism is in the photo, and how the image could be enhanced?
 
 This could be some sort of plant matter, or even bacteria in the pond. The image could be enhanced using a real microscope.
 
 
 What other microscopy technique could be used to view the sample in higher detail?
 
 A higher magnification microscope could be used to view the sample in more detail, and better illumination techniques could help bring out details in the sample.
 
 
 #caltechbi1

Caltech Pond Scum

by Zafir Abou-Zamzam

<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="Pollen" class="wp-image-148987 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="148987" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 6","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1557484014","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.15","iso":"2000","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="Pollen" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_148980/Pollen-3.jpg"/>
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 The picture above is a sample of pollen taken from one of the yellow flowers abundant on campus (see end of post). In the photo, we can see the differentiated grains of pollen through the lens of the foldscope. The sample was taken at 10:30am on Friday, May 10, from a flower on the walkway west of Page house, about 15ft south of the southwest entrance of the building. The sample was obtained by rubbing a q-tip along the inside of the flower until a small amount of pollen was transferred. A slide was then prepared to view the sample.


 A question I would want answered is: how many pollen can a bee carry at a given time? To answer this, we would first have to estimate the size of a pollen grain, and also the surface area of the part of the bee that carries pollen. We would then have to estimate the area of pollen coverage on the bee, and how many layers of pollen are able to stick together while being carried by the bee. The former could be found with a visual measurement, while the latter could potentially be measured by determining the thickness of the pollen-carrying area of the bee before and after picking up pollen. With all these values we could then estimate the amount of pollen carried.


 A classic follow up question would then be: how much pollen is transferred between flowers by a bee? To measure this, we would have to measure the net amount of pollen on the bee before and after touching the flower, and also test in some other setting the amount of pollen the bee drops and picks up when moving along a flower. This could potentially be done in a lab setting with different flowers, where the pollen is colored differently on each flower, and bees move throughout.
 


 A picture of the flower the sample was obtained from is below.
 

<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized">
 <img alt="IMG_5465" class="wp-image-149011 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="149011" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 6","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1557483432","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.15","iso":"32","shutter_speed":"0.016666666666667","title":"","orientation":"6"}' data-image-title="IMG_5465" height="363" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_148980/IMG_5465.jpg" width="272"/>
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 #caltechbi1

Caltech Exploring Pollen

Zafir Abou-Zamzam, Section 3
 
 (extra credit post)

<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized">
 <img alt="Celery" class="wp-image-152608 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="152608" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 6","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1559224199","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.15","iso":"500","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"6"}' data-image-title="Celery" height="635" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_152606/Celery.jpg" width="476"/>
 <figcaption>
 
 </figcaption>
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 This is an image of the cellular structure of celery (apium graveolens) where we can see the individual cells divided by cell walls (the darker lines). The cells seem to be in standardized rows, with similar height, although the columns are offset. Looking closely, water is seen in the cells, and the water pressure provides stiffness in the stalk. The sample was obtained from the north house open kitchen salad bar, a little after 2:10pm on 5/30. An extremely thin slice of celery was taken, so that the slice was translucent, and sample made.


 You may notice that a few of my posts are common vegetables. I wanted to compare the structures of vegetables and see any identifiable differences.

<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="Cellloc" class="wp-image-152960 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="152960" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 6","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1559228453","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.15","iso":"250","shutter_speed":"0.041666666666667","title":"","orientation":"6"}' data-image-title="Cellloc" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_152606/Cellloc.jpg"/>
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 #caltechbi1

Negative calories just from looking at it

Zafir Abou-Zamzam Section 3
 
 (Extra Credit)

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 <img alt="Onion" class="wp-image-152966 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="152966" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 6","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1559223076","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.15","iso":"500","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"6"}' data-image-title="Onion" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_152964/Onion-1.jpg"/>
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 This is an image of the cell structure of allium cepa, or red onion. At the same magnification as the other vegetables, the individual onion cells are larger, measuring in around 200µm. There is no tint to these, as the specimen was taken from the central part. Onion provided a good specimen for this project, as since the onion naturally layers, and since the color is semi-transparent, a thin layer was able to be taken by peeling. This thin layer was then cut to fit on a slide, and used as a sample. The onion sample was obtained from the north house open kitchen salad bar, using tongs, at 2:11pm on 5/30.

<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized">
 <img alt="Onionloc" class="wp-image-152967 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="152967" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 6","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1559228441","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.15","iso":"250","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"6"}' data-image-title="Onionloc" height="589" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_152964/Onionloc.jpg" width="442"/>
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 #caltechbi1

So beautiful it will make you cry!

Zafir Abou-Zamzam Section 3
 
 (extra credit post)

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 <img alt="Lettuce2" class="wp-image-152983 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="152983" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 6","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1559223367","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.15","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.033333333333333","title":"","orientation":"6"}' data-image-title="Lettuce2" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_152979/Lettuce2.jpg"/>
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 This image is of romaine lettuce (lactuca sativa). Apologies for the blurriness, but looking closely we the same uniform structure as celery and onion, although a bit smaller than the celery cells. The green tint is visible, and the white line across the center is actually the rib of the lettuce. The rib cells appear to be the same size as other cells. The sample was obtained from the same place as other vegetables – the north house open kitchen salad bar, at 2:11pm on 5/30. The sample was taken in a similar manner – taking a very thin slice across the rib, and placing on a slide.
 

<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="Letloc" class="wp-image-152984 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="152984" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 6","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1559228457","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.15","iso":"250","shutter_speed":"0.033333333333333","title":"","orientation":"6"}' data-image-title="Letloc" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_152979/Letloc.jpg"/>
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 #caltechbi1

Salad at a small scale

Zafir Abou-Zamzam Section 3
 
 (extra credit post)

<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="Hair" class="wp-image-153004 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="153004" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 6","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1559224753","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.15","iso":"320","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"6"}' data-image-title="Hair" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_153000/Hair-1.jpg"/>
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 This is an image of a hair follicle. My hair is dark and curly, and we can see a slight curl as the hair leaves the follicle. At higher magnification it would be interesting to see the details of the actual follicle, but it is remarkable to see that the hair takes a right angle turn almost immediately. I’m not exactly sure why, but this could be a way to anchor the hair into the skin, or it could have been damaged when removed. The sample was pulled violently from my head in the lounge of Page house, on 5/29 at 9:00pm, and placed onto a slide to view. I would include the location (a picture of my head), but I don’t want to put you through that misery having to look at a non-aesthetic zoomed in photo. (Trust me, I’ve seen it).


 #caltechbi1

Ouch, that hurt!

Zafir Abou-Zamzam Section 3
 
 (extra credit post)

<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="Flower" class="wp-image-153020 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="153020" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 6","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1559225366","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.15","iso":"500","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"6"}' data-image-title="Flower" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_153015/Flower-2.jpg"/>
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 This is an image of partial orange flower, species unknown. The flower has a fuzzy texture, and was difficult to get in focus as there are multiple cell layers. Looking closely at the top right of the photo we can see the individual cells, that are about the size of the lettuce ones. The yellow orange tint is seen, and these are a good source of pollen. The sample was obtained at 11:00am of 5/29, 10 feet south of the southwest doors of Page house, by taking a small piece of the flower. The piece was then sliced thinly and placed onto a slide. The picture below is what the flower looks like, and the plant from which it was taken.

<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized">
 <img alt="Flowerloc" class="wp-image-153026 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="153026" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 6","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1559228378","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.15","iso":"32","shutter_speed":"0.025","title":"","orientation":"6"}' data-image-title="Flowerloc" height="632" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_153015/Flowerloc.jpg" width="474"/>
</figure>

 #caltechbi1

Zafir Abou-Zamzam

Earth

Posts

So beautiful it will make you cry!

Salad at a small scale

Ouch, that hurt!

Roses are red, this flower is orange… the rest of this rhyme is not going to work

Caltech Pond Scum

Caltech Exploring Pollen

Negative calories just from looking at it

So beautiful it will make you cry!

Salad at a small scale

Ouch, that hurt!

Roses are red, this flower is orange… the rest of this rhyme is not going to work

Caltech Pond Scum

Caltech Exploring Pollen

Negative calories just from looking at it

So beautiful it will make you cry!

Salad at a small scale

Ouch, that hurt!

Roses are red, this flower is orange… the rest of this rhyme is not going to work

Locations

Statistics

Type of Sample

Foldscope Lens Magnification