Cristina Bosch Esteva

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 It is autumn and although not very rainy in the Canary Islands, we have been granted some rain these days. Mosses have awoken from a silent sleep. After exhibiting a brownish and dried complexion for months, they have switched into bright green patches glistening beautifully in the dull pavements of my neighbourhood.
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 Bryophytes did it. They  left acuatic environments behind and headed to terrestrial habitats. I ignore how long it took but evolution takes it time. Our very first living creatures considered as plants, therefore, lack true tissues and consequently need moisture in order not to dissecate, to absorb water throughout the general surface, to fertilize gametes, to open sporangia end expell spora, ….  When severe conditions outcome, they simply end a biological cycle or stay dormant, which is where my post started. Well then, the thing is that living as fauna associated to mosses must be really tough too. This toughness, anyway, definitely has led to incredible creatures such as tardigrades or water bears. Their capability to endure adverse conditions make them fascinating, not only for the fact of living for so long and surviving extreme conditions, but for the ability to incorporate genes from other living things! Wow! I believe Genetic knowledge will change quite a bit in the near future.
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 Last week I could not avoid picking up a sample of mosses and watch through my foldscope. The fresh and velvety green was so appealing! To my amazement, as if shooting stars, I stumbled across a tardigrade. I suppose it went into hiding due to the intense light, but it hid among the leaves, not real ones although. So each time I see images as the one that follows, I think they have revealed a little secret which I want to share with you: it can be one of them.
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   The video (sorry, the quality is not the best, I was so excited!).
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   Sunny weather is back again. They probably must be making their tons as are uncapable to breathe without water. I feel so lucky for having been able to see them! Nevertheless, looking forward to watch them better, I have implemented my own procedure.
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     Cristina Bosch
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Mosses or a world of wonders

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 As a Biology teacher, I do believe students do not only love but also need to learn by discovering Nature by themselves. Foldscope can make this  goal realistic. This is an example of what they did a few days ago. Students (11 th grade) were learning about plant tissues, especifically about epidermal tissues. This array of examples made understanding pretty easy and encouraging. With the foldscope I have, we shot some images and videos and wanted to share them with you
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  We used flowers and leaves from a species of Freesia. Next images and video show epidermal cells and guard cells of the leaves. Contrary to what we expected, epidermal cells were multinuclear. They ressembled a jigsaw puzzle, all the pieces were different. From the video you can observe some exhibited two nuclei, others three ( which seemed so queer,…).
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 In case there were thin cell walls we could not see, they stained some samples with methilene blue, and found nothing clearer.
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 They also saw the epidermis from the petals and proved it showed no stoma. Their shape had no relationship with the previous observed.
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 Later on, we observed hair- like extensions (
 <em>
  trichoma)
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 beautifully arranged in the stigma and ready to capture pollen grains
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 Al these types of cells were observed all together  in an african violet leaf.
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 They stained it and enjoyed the beautiful architecture of cells.
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 Finally, they prepared a flower sample of a fountain grass plant and realised  trichomes can harden their cell walls and act as microscopic thorns, an adaptation to increase dissemination efficiency.
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 Cristina Bosch
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Teaching  histology (plant tissue) using foldscope.

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<p>
 Dear Foldscope community:
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<p>
 My foldscope and a few of my students’ make a shivering movement probably due to something dealing with the magnetic coupler. Can you help us?  To better understand what I refer to, I have uploaded this video about a group of  enchanting protozoa known as “bell animalcule” Thanks in advance!
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Why is this happening🧐?

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 Most
 <strong>
  rotifers
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 are motile.  They swim by means of their corona cilia, as we have been able to see in former posts. Others are semisessile, attaching vía their foot and intermittently swimming or creeping, similarly to leeches locomotion. Nevertheless, some rotifers live in a secreted tube.  With this post I want to share with you this fact. It amazes me that as an University student I clearly remember studying these invertebrates but never saw as much as I have been able to by means of using a foldscope and by reading you, foldscope community.
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 <em>
  Some weeks ago, I took a fresh water sample to my students (9 th. grade) in order to make them realise it represented a whole macro/microscopic
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 ecosystem.
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  Our challenge was to find out which living things this sample included, to know “who they were and how did they live ” and, finally, discover who ate whom and make a food web using the photos we shot. It was a real pleasure to hear them saying…..Wow! Come and watch this…..it’s
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 <em>
  Among
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 the incredible living things we saw, there were sessile    Rotifers. I had never seen them before.  One of them seems branched (can they organise in colonies?)  and although we can no notice a mastax (pharynx hard pieces to chew food),  I believe they are wheeled animalcules. If you think our statements are wrong, please let us know. Thank you!
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 Cristina Bosch
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More on Rotifers&#8230;.to be continued.

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 I have been keeping a sample of common duckweed which I obtained from a freshwater fountain you can see in the next image.
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 Whenever my duties allow me, I run and grab  my foldscope and inmensely enjoy watching the microcosmos under it. Refering to this plant (it is frequently mistaken as an algae), I have recently read  that   duckweed  (
 <em>
  Lemna
 </em>
 <em>
  spp
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 )  absorbs water and nutrients  mostly through the lower surface of the leaves, not the roots. The only root they  exhibit per leaf  slows the plant’s movement in a windy day or in turbulent waters because roots entangle  easily. This fact is clear in the photograph above.
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 The more I watch under the foldscope, the more I firmly believe  every living creature, no matter its size, is an exhibition of wonders. I will explain myself. When observing Lemna’s root, I    realized not only sessile rotifers attached to it, but some other epiphytic organisms (living  more or less permanently on top of) which I could not recognise. Take a look.
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<p>
 After gathering information from the Internet and from books, I came to the conclusion they are diatoms. Diatoms have been a subject of many posts in this web. You might know then that they are algae that make a silica microscopic “box” inside which they live. Each cell builds two parts that fit together like a box and lid. The silica deposit is irregular and results in an amazing and beautiful variety of patterns. If I am not mistaken, the algae in the images belongs to genus
 <em>
  Gomphonema.
 </em>
 Amazingly, it also builds a mucilaginous stalk that attaches an individual or some of them (a colony) to Lemna’s root.
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<p>
 There are many species of
 <em>
  Gomphonema
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 and differ in shape. Many of them show a more or less triangular lateral view, so I thought it is how it is seen in the video. Here is a drawing to explain myself.
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="image-12.jpeg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_15298/image-12.jpeg" rel="attachment wp-att-15472">
  <img alt="image" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-15472 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="15472" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPad","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1461967984","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.28","iso":"160","shutter_speed":"0.058823529411765","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="image" data-recalc-dims="1" height="747" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_15298/image-12.jpeg" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p>
 Sure there are more epiphytic diatoms in the former video. Some look like needles, others form chains of cells. I suppose they are difficult to identify, but what makes me wonder is why do they prefer living attatched, ….constant light? Staying above the water column? Saving energy as they are dragged? And furthermore, does Lemna receive anything in
 <em>
  exchange?
 </em>
</p>
<p>
 Next microorganism I found is a complete mystery. Are those pseudopods?
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/164671331" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 To finish with, here is a general view (excuse me for moving fast).  There is a rotifer in the end,  a dexterous swimmer with a keel on its back, although it’s not moving much now.
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/164643924" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 Cristina Bosch
</p>
<p>
</p>


Epiphytic microorganisms on duckweed roots.

<p style="text-align: left">
 <a alt="image-2.png" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_16502/image-2.png" rel="attachment wp-att-16581">
  <br/>
 </a>
 <a alt="image-17.jpeg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_16502/image-17.jpeg" rel="attachment wp-att-16499">
  <img alt="image" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-16499 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="16499" 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="image" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1284" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_16502/image-17.jpeg" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 As a Biology teacher, I am aware of how essential it is to find new methods and  strategies  in order to motivate students. I firmly believe this is the most important clue to improve educational systems achievements.  Foldscope illustrates this statement by demonstrating  its usage leads to real and significant learning. Here is an example:
</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;text-align: justify">
 <i>
  A few days ago I saw some water fleas in my everlasting fresh water sample. Just imagine it might  have  been observed by a student  anywhere. He or she would have seen this:
 </i>
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="image-4-e1463243436251.jpeg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_16502/image-4-e1463243436251.jpeg" rel="attachment wp-att-16010">
  <img alt="image" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-16010 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="16010" 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="image" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1128" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_16502/image-4.jpeg" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;text-align: justify">
 <em>
  Wow! Wow! Wow! This is an experience not everyone is lucky enough to undergo…. So what is next should flow spontaneously. The student might observe, even without knowing Taxonomy at all,  it has jointed appendages made by diverse segments that can move independently………  More than six legs, biramous antennae (with some guideness he/she will find two pairs),   … And so many more features that he or she surely will be learning with ease and, futhermore,  with joy.  Later, they will associate those characteristics with scientific names (Arthropoda, Crustaceans, … ).
 </em>
</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;text-align: justify">
 <em>
  But this is only the beggining ……. just go on reading 😊.
 </em>
</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;text-align: justify">
 <i>
  Watching (no doubt, with complete astonishment) the water flea move, they will understand the second pair of antennae are responsible of that motion, and that a bivalve  caparace (that can open slightly and show the internal appendages) encloses the body with exception of the head.
 </i>
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/166857885" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p style="padding-left: 30px">
 <i>
  If molts are found, actually quite easy to encounter, as the one in the next image,  ideas of empty and complete exoskeletons would link with the need of removing the old ones to accomplish growth.
 </i>
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="image-2.png" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_16502/image-2.png" rel="attachment wp-att-16581">
  <img alt="image" class="aligncenter size-dyad-featured-image wp-image-16581 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="16581" 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="image" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1280" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_16502/image-2.png" width="960"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px">
 <i>
  Some days later,  maybe, a now brownish  water flea might call their atention. Some strange black dots are present dorsally.
 </i>
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/168300927" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p style="padding-left: 30px">
 <i>
  If they are patient enough to observe a pause in this Crustacean’s jerky movement, the mystery will go on.
 </i>
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="image-19.jpeg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_16502/image-19.jpeg" rel="attachment wp-att-16501">
  <img alt="image" class="alignleft wp-image-16501 size-full gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="16501" 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="image" data-recalc-dims="1" height="956" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_16502/image-19.jpeg" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="image-18.jpeg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_16502/image-18.jpeg" rel="attachment wp-att-16500">
  <img alt="image" class="alignright wp-image-16500 size-full gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="16500" 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="image" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1102" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_16502/image-18.jpeg" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/168302362" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p style="padding-left: 30px">
 <i>
  As you have witnessed too, they might suddenly see baby water fleas that were not observable a few minutes ago.  What has happened? Two adults and, all at once, some small ones fussing around. Any ideas?
 </i>
</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px">
 <i>
  And what is more, what is this individual trying to do. Watch, please.
 </i>
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/168110725" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p style="padding-left: 30px">
 <i>
  To their surprise and amazement, they will be able to watch a female water flea revealing the answer:
 </i>
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/168298879" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 In conclusion,  I have tried to imagine what could have happened if, instead of working Arthropods (Insects, Miriapods, Aracnids, ……..Crustaceans) using books, anatomical puzzles, dissecting crabs or similar and using a stereoscope microscope for a more detailed observation,  etc.  , a teenager had used a foldscope. It is obvious that Nature blossoms by means of this paper microscope, and passion for Biology and all related subjects is then settled.
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 Our lucky student now knows what a cladoceran is; that, although books say Crustaceans develop undergoing a larval phase (Nauplius), this group doesn’t.  They can understand (if they have only females) that parthenogenesis is another way of reproduction, that makes clones of the mother.  Even more, by watching the greenish gut in  adults and not seeing that colour in the ones that have been born, they might conclude they feed on phytoplankton.
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="image-20.jpeg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_16502/image-20.jpeg" rel="attachment wp-att-16547">
  <img alt="image" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-16547 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="16547" 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="image" data-recalc-dims="1" height="994" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_16502/image-20.jpeg" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 Many more facts and features might be written in this post, but I do not want to make it longer.  Next image shows something  I usually ask my students to do when we have finished  some contents that need visual understanding.
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="image-21.jpeg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_16502/image-21.jpeg" rel="attachment wp-att-16589">
  <img alt="image" class="alignnone wp-image-16589 size-full gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="16589" 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="image" data-recalc-dims="1" height="886" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_16502/image-21.jpeg" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="image-22.jpeg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_16502/image-22.jpeg" rel="attachment wp-att-16591">
  <img alt="image" class="aligncenter size-dyad-featured-image wp-image-16591 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="16591" 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="image" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1280" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_16502/image-22.jpeg" width="960"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p>
 Thanks for reading.
</p>
<p>
 Cristina Bosch
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>


Significant Biology learning

<p>
 My city has a wonderful nearby beach known as Las Canteras beach. Last wednesday there were many jellyfishes on the sea shore  belonging to
 <i>
  Pelagia noctiluca
 </i>
 species,  cnidarians that the waves drag and leave on the sand when they bloom due to higher sea temperatures, among other reasons.
</p>
<figure class="wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio">
 <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
  <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
   <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
    <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/352812677" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
    </iframe>
   </div>
  </div>
 </div>
</figure>
<p>
 I have always wondered how cnidocites (stinging cells that these animals have) look like under a microscope. Therefore, I carefully picked two of them and took them home.
</p>
<figure class="wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio">
 <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
  <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
   <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
    <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/352788896" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
    </iframe>
   </div>
  </div>
 </div>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="6DD08CBB-5895-470D-841E-42982261A0AD" class="wp-image-165589 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="165589" 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":"1"}' data-image-title="6DD08CBB-5895-470D-841E-42982261A0AD" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_165596/6DD08CBB-5895-470D-841E-42982261A0AD.jpeg"/>
</figure>
<p>
 I viewed a tentacle (pointed above) and saw clusters and clusters of spherical structures that represent cnidocites batteries!     Watch by your own:
</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="8DBDBD2D-3543-4018-902F-48434553BDAF" class="wp-image-165590 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="165590" 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="8DBDBD2D-3543-4018-902F-48434553BDAF" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_165596/8DBDBD2D-3543-4018-902F-48434553BDAF.png"/>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="42F55027-7FDC-4A78-A0E4-56E04BDF7A91" class="wp-image-165592 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="165592" 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="42F55027-7FDC-4A78-A0E4-56E04BDF7A91" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_165596/42F55027-7FDC-4A78-A0E4-56E04BDF7A91.png"/>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="F2462583-9A97-4531-A514-1014E27239E3" class="wp-image-165594 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="165594" 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="F2462583-9A97-4531-A514-1014E27239E3" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_165596/F2462583-9A97-4531-A514-1014E27239E3.png"/>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-embed-vimeo alignleft wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-9-16 wp-has-aspect-ratio">
 <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
  <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
   <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
    <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/352774771" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
    </iframe>
   </div>
  </div>
 </div>
</figure>
<p>
</p>
<p>
 To my astonishment, many of these cells were detached  from the body surface. I wonder if they can function under this circumstance.
</p>
<p>
 I could not see what these cells fire to act as stinging elements and was about to abandon when, wow!, I watched this:
</p>
<figure class="wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-9-16 wp-has-aspect-ratio">
 <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
  <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
   <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
    <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/352780137" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
    </iframe>
   </div>
  </div>
 </div>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="532186AB-E590-4ECE-83E1-4A1D6848935F" class="wp-image-165647 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="165647" 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":"1"}' data-image-title="532186AB-E590-4ECE-83E1-4A1D6848935F" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_165596/532186AB-E590-4ECE-83E1-4A1D6848935F.jpeg"/>
</figure>
<p>
 I can understand now that thousands of microscopic darts can sting in our skin all in a sudden carrying irritating or venomous substances.  Another “discovery” achieved thanks to this incredible paper microscope!
</p>
<p>
 Cheers!
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
 Cristina Bosch
</p>


How can jellyfishes sting?

<p style="text-align: justify">
 
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 <a alt="image-10-e1467452032383.jpeg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_17241/image-10-e1467452032383.jpeg">
  <img alt="image" class="aligncenter size-dyad-featured-image wp-image-17230 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="17230" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPad","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1455039112","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.28","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0023474178403756","title":"","orientation":"8"}' data-image-title="image" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1280" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_17241/image-10.jpeg" width="960"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 This is
 <em>
  Pennisetum
 </em>
 <em>
  setaceum
 </em>
 , a grass  (
 <em>
  Poaceae
 </em>
 ) known as purple fountain grass in many countries abroad. Where I live it is called “rabo de gato”, which is to say “cat’s tail”, something easy to comprehend when seen as follows:
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 <a alt="image-7-e1467389087548.jpeg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_17241/image-7-e1467389087548.jpeg">
  <img alt="image" class="aligncenter size-dyad-featured-image wp-image-17227 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="17227" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPad","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1455039407","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.28","iso":"64","shutter_speed":"0.0083333333333333","title":"","orientation":"8"}' data-image-title="image" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1280" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_17241/image-7.jpeg" width="960"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 It has been introduced to many parts of the world as an ornamental plant, and this is where  this story begins:
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 Canary Islands are made up of eight beautiful volcanic  islands. Therefore , evolution has given rise to an incredible amount of endemisms  (species  restricted to a particular geographic region ) of all kinds.  This  uniqueness is emphasized by the fact that  many of these species or its ancestors  became already extinct in  other areas of the  planet during the most recent glacial period, that is to say, 110,000 to 12,000 years ago.
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 Once this  background settled, let us say that
 <em>
  Pennisetum setaceum
 </em>
 has proved to be a very serious menace to canarian flora, with which it competes very effectively as an invasive species and it also increases the risk of intense wildfires, to which it is well adapted.
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 It is beyond doubt that every species, endemic or not, is a masterpiece, and has needed an unimaginable time  and an indescribable succession of mutations to be itself, and no other. Consequently, we are now  dealing with a serious matter demanding an efective response.
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 My school sorroundings are an example of this situation:
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 <a alt="image-9.jpeg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_17241/image-9.jpeg">
  <img alt="image" class="aligncenter size-dyad-featured-image wp-image-17229 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="17229" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPad","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1463575863","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.28","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.00049603174603175","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="image" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1280" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_17241/image-9.jpeg" width="960"/>
 </a>
 <br/>
 This grass is easily dispersed by vehicles, humans, livestock, wind (over short distances), water,… Its versatile propagation is easy to understand under  a foldscope:  microscopic thorns cover almost every pollinated ( or not) flower  features containing  potential seeds.
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/173099366" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 Each floret (flower) carries two densely branched styles, typical characteristic in wind-pollinated species. As seen before, thorns are of all kinds, ensuring dispersal success. Many structures contain a purple pigment, including the scales’ epidermal tissue.
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 <a alt="image-19.jpeg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_17241/image-19.jpeg">
  <img alt="image" class="aligncenter size-dyad-featured-image wp-image-17436 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="17436" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 6s Plus","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1467470888","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.15","iso":"25","shutter_speed":"0.0016778523489933","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="image" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1280" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_17241/image-19.jpeg" width="960"/>
 </a>
 <br/>
 A group of my students have come up with a smart idea. Joel has been the one suggesting  biological control as a possible way to lessen the gravity of this issue. He is passionate about Botany and has planned to use parasitic plants for this goal. It is certain that no pathogens of fountain grass have been reported till now (only some cattle in Hawaii), so he and his classmates have chosen a species of
 <i>
  Orobanche
 </i>
 to put this idea into practice.
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 <a alt="image-6-e1467388874413.jpeg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_17241/image-6-e1467388874413.jpeg">
  <img alt="image" class="aligncenter size-dyad-featured-image wp-image-17226 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="17226" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPad","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1463650288","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.28","iso":"64","shutter_speed":"0.058823529411765","title":"","orientation":"6"}' data-image-title="image" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1280" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_17241/image-6.jpeg" width="960"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 As previously said, species belonging to the genus
 <em>
  Orobanche
 </em>
 are parasitic herbaceous plants. The haustorium is the part of the plant  which attaches the parasite to the host plant and grows into its vascular system. The parasite is then able to draw out water and nutrients, producing a general weakening of the host plant.
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 <a alt="image-21-e1468275747652.jpeg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_17241/image-21-e1468275747652.jpeg">
  <img alt="image" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17445 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="17445" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 6s Plus","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1467470888","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.15","iso":"25","shutter_speed":"0.0016778523489933","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="image" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1000" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_17241/image-21.jpeg" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 Using our foldscope, we saw the glandular trichomes scattered on the plant tissue. Really beautiful!
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/173104735" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 So Joel and his group are now trying to grow both species together. We know many ecological facts can determine the results of this experiment. For instance,
 <i>
  Orobanche
 </i>
 species tend to grow better in humid habitats, but
 <i>
  Penissetum
 </i>
 <i>
  setaceum
 </i>
 is adapted to dry conditions.
</p>
<p>
 We know there is a better candidate: dodder (genus
 <i>
  Cuscuta
 </i>
 ), but we are now on the track of its habitat. Until any interesting  outcome, we wanted to ask you, foldscope community, if you knew about a possible solution for this extremely important matter or suggested any idea to achieve our goal. We are all ears (or eyes 😊)!
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
 Joel Moreno and Cristina Bosch
</p>

A thorny issue urging a solution: biological control?

<blockquote>
 <p>
  <a alt="image-8.jpeg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_17723/image-8.jpeg">
   <img alt="image" class="aligncenter wp-image-17733 size-full gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="17733" 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="image" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1000" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_17723/image-8.jpeg" width="1000"/>
  </a>
 </p>
</blockquote>
<p>
 
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 Every pollen image you can observe above  corresponds to a different plant species. Some have been  taken using foldscope low magnification lens, others by means of the high magnification one.  What is obvious is that you do not need to wonder about looking for several specimens (which, on the other hand, can be a pleasure) if you decide to reproduce this activitity; simply use a very small drop of honey, place it on a slide and prepare for a pollen grain discovery expedition! That is what I have done and it has represented such an enjoyable task! Every new tiny drop carried new types of pollen grains, apart from those which are generally present, and, to my surprise, they can include some structures of the bee anatomy too!
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 All honey types can be divided into two general groups – polyfloral honeys and monofloral honeys. Polyfloral honey types are produced by honey bees using nectar from many different flower sources. Alternatively, honey bees produce monofloral honey types from the nectar of one flower species.  My source was a monofloral honey, so, hypothetically, honey bees should have been collecting nectar exclusively from
 <i>
  Rosmarinus officinalis
 </i>
 species, as the label said “rosemary honey”. When a solely type of nectar is the only nectar source used in the production of honey, this honey is a true representation of the qualities of that species ‘ nectar. The color, texture, viscosity, sugar content, mineral content, vitamins, and anitoxidants are all unique to it.
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 Therefore, I wanted to find out if my honey was a true monofloral one, so I prepared some samples for their observation  under the foldscope. To my surprise, I stumbled across a moderate variety of pollen morphology. You can watch the most abundant one in the next video.
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/177360622" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 Squeezing the slide a bit, I tried to spin the grains in order to observe their complete external features. Sometimes I succeded, others I failed, and the video resulted somehow dizzy. Sorry for that!
</p>
<p>
 Secondly, I found more types of pollen grains, none of them abundant, just scarcely distributed in some of the samples. Watch next videos, please.
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/177363156" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/177364953" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/177365861" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 I know where rosemary grows in my neighbourhood, so I decided to pick  up several flowers to check its pollen.
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="image-7.jpeg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_17723/image-7.jpeg">
  <img alt="image" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17728 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="17728" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"13","credit":"","camera":"NIKON D80","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1144272040","copyright":"","focal_length":"135","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.0025","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="image" data-recalc-dims="1" height="701" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_17723/image-7.jpeg" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p>
 Take a quick look:
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/177125507" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 So, what do you think? Fresh pollen looks great in this video!  It exhibits an hexacolpate/hexacolporate morphology (six long apertures going from pole to pole), and ressemble the most abundant pollen grains in this honey (video I).
</p>
<p>
 I know there is a method (Erdtman method) to prepare pollen for its best observation.  I practiced it many years ago. It destroys the “insides”of the grains and its inner wall, the intine, but preserves the outer one  (exine) which displays the most important characteristics for identification. But this is a different story.
</p>
<p>
 So, is this a monofloral or a multifloral honey? Wikipedia states ” monofloral  honey is a type of honey which has a distinctive flavor or other attribute due to its being
 <b>
  <u>
   predominantly
  </u>
 </b>
 from the nectar of one plant species”.  In order to find an answer, I am afraid we need  further analysis. Anyway, this finding has been pure fun!  I encourage you to open your exquisite honey glass jar     and spend a lovely summer afternoon!
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
 Bonus: bee’s “hairs” found in rosemary honey.
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="image-5.jpeg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_17723/image-5.jpeg">
  <img alt="image" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17711 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="17711" 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="image" data-recalc-dims="1" height="973" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_17723/image-5.jpeg" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p>
 Thanks for reading!
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
 Cristina Bosch
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>

Pollen grains as clues

<p>
 <a alt="image-3.jpeg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_20005/image-3.jpeg">
  <img alt="image" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-15242 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="15242" 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="image" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1024" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_20005/image-3.jpeg" width="852"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 Microscopic algae render my fascination every time I have  the chance to observe them .  Instantly,  I feel the need to pause for a while and to regard  admiringly not only their capability to transform inorganic matter (carbon dioxide, mostly) into organic molecules (glucose, for instance) and their active production of oxigen, but also their exquisite beauty.
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 After viewing the previous image, you probably might have recognised two specimens that have been shown for several times on microcosmos.foldscope, that is,
 <em>
  Spirogyra
 </em>
 spp and a diatom species. The third one, the one on top, is
 <em>
  Closterium
 </em>
 spp.  Watch this  graceful trio  in the broken silence of their supportive environment.
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/189223043" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 Genus
 <em>
  Closterium
 </em>
 includes species that resemble rods or crescents. It is a desmid, I mean, a single celled green algae living in fresh water whose name is related to the fact that it is made of two halves being mirror images of one another. Therefore, it is symmetrical. This symmetry leads to  beautiful shapes and make every desmid aesthetically so appealing that I would like to  invite you, if you  have the chance to find them (they are worldwide), to make posts so that we can share the variety of genus and their artistic elegance.
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 Where the two halves  join, the cell usually narrows (not in our specimen). This is exactly where the nucleus is located. Normally two chloroplasts project from this point and provide a marvelous green color to our eyes. Starch is synthesized in them, specifically in the dark patches seen next:
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="Enlight1.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_20005/Enlight1.jpg">
  <img alt="enlight1" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-21449 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="21449" 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="enlight1" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1110" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_20005/Enlight1.jpg" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 <em>
  Closterium
 </em>
 has also one curious feature: one vacuole (organelles containing different substances -water, pigments etc. – ) on each end of the cell. They are patent in the next video, where you can  also see this algae moving as if it were sliding gracefully (locomotion is caused by secretion of mucilage from pores in the cell wall).
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/194261150" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 They live in clear waters. This is where I found them:
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="image-4.jpeg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_20005/image-4.jpeg">
  <img alt="image" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-15243 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="15243" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPad","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1460818063","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.28","iso":"64","shutter_speed":"0.016666666666667","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="image" data-recalc-dims="1" height="747" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_20005/image-4.jpeg" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 Another unicellular algae I have recently had the opportunity to
 <em>
  foldscope
 </em>
 is
 <em>
  Phacus
 </em>
 spp. It is not a desmid but an euglenoid. It exhibits certain features I would like to share with you. Firstly, its shape: it looks like a delicate leaf, moving  softly in fresh water.
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/189848250" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 Secondly, its eye spot, a red dot it uses for light detection. Watch the following video, please (I zoomed in):
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/194343322" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 Here is a drawing to figure it better:
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="Enlight1-1.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_20005/Enlight1-1.jpg">
  <img alt="enlight1" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-21511 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="21511" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPad","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1480975551","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.28","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.058823529411765","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="enlight1" data-recalc-dims="1" height="861" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_20005/Enlight1-1.jpg" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify">
 Paramylon bodies contain a substance similar to starch, but its chemical structure is slightly different (as a biologist, it is an amazing feature).
</p>
<p>
 All in all, these are only two examples of unicellular algae:  a sand grain in a vast desert. Therefore,  let us unveil its  splendor using our foldscopes!
</p>
<p>
 Cristina Bosch
</p>
<p>
</p>


Microjewels.

<p>
 <img alt="IMG_4139" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-23080 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="23080" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPad","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1487694541","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.28","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.041666666666667","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_4139" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1166" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_23145/IMG_4139.jpg" width="1000"/>
 
</p>
<p>
 Dear foldscope community:
</p>
<p>
 This is going to be a short post  due to such a busy time I am having. Just wanted to share with you a bit of the  hidden beauty  foldscope is allowing many of us to unveal. Isn’t this a gorgeous adventure!
</p>
<p>
 A few days ago I was trying to image epidermal tissue of a red onion in order to register the changes undergone in different osmotic media, that is to say, in water first and in a high concentrated dilution after. As you might know, this is a very common lab experiment accomplished by high school students. To be honest, my goal was to design some easy way to image the process  alive, which meant changing from tap water to salty water without moving the slide from the foldscope I was using. I practiced a long cut in a PVC slide y made for this ocassion but it failed, even after three or four tries. Nonetheless, I was completely overjoyed at the images that resulted. Using a foldscope has let me understand we are also playing with light (or light is playing with us) when we observe samples,  and this is a fact imposible to facilitate using a regular microscope.  Please, watch next images and see what I mean.
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="IMG_4147-e1487970249793.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_23145/IMG_4147-e1487970249793.jpg">
  <img alt="IMG_4147" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-23081 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="23081" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPad","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1487695438","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.28","iso":"64","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"6"}' data-image-title="IMG_4147" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1338" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_23145/IMG_4147.jpg" width="1000"/>
 </a>
 You can almost touch the cells and feel the slight roughness of its surface. I felt amazed!
</p>
<p>
 When the cell underwent plasmolysis, the vacuole containing pigments (anthocyanins, mostly) shrinked and, for the first time in my life, I saw such clear junctions between the cell membrane and the cell wall (Hetchian strands).
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="IMG_4156.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_23145/IMG_4156.jpg">
  <img alt="IMG_4156" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-23082 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="23082" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPad","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1487696997","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.28","iso":"64","shutter_speed":"0.025","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_4156" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1040" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_23145/IMG_4156.jpg" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p>
 I have gone through these images  many, many times and believe they are very beautiful. As I said before, osmosis is a familiar practice for many of us, but foldscope-light duetto has made it different. Simply wanted to let you know.
</p>
<p>
 Till next time
</p>
<p>
 Cristina  Bosch
</p>

A quick post to share some observations

<p>
 <img alt="IMG_4518" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-26617 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="26617" 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_4518" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1333" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_26619/IMG_4518.png" width="1000"/>
</p>
<p style="text-align: left">
 Dear Foldscope community:
</p>
<p style="text-align: left">
 In many occasions, since I have been using my foldscope microscope, I have had the opportunity to watch fresh water oligochaeta worms. They are very abundant in debris enriched waters and quite “huge” to be easily observed in detail.  When I was a University student, I don´t remember seeing them “in vivo”,-of course we studied earthworms and other common and macroscopic annelida species- so you can imagine this is an unique occasion we are very lucky to be able to undergo….. I am a biologist and really love being it, but sometimes I presume studying Biology would have been so absolutely amazing having a foldscope in hand!
</p>
<p>
 If you gather information about these animals (oligochaeta), you will end up knowing they breathe through their moist skin.  This fact explains why they lack exoskeletons and need a humid habitat. You might agree this is completely theoretical and a little bit of logical reasoning, but  learning biology should be much more than this. Here is just an example:
</p>
<p>
 Firstly, please, watch next video which  I recorded more than a year ago and kept it for today´s post.  I do believe this living creatures exhibit very clear  features and represent a very good example of what you can achieve using a foldscope.
 <em>
  Dero spp –
 </em>
 worm-,
 <em>
  Spirogyra spp
 </em>
 -algae- and
 <em>
  Lemna minor –
 </em>
 duckweed
 <i>
  –
 </i>
 root among others. Many morphological/anatomical structures are seen, especially the ones concerning the aquatic worm, but two of them have called my attention: the chloragen tissue, observed for the first time in my life…
</p>
<p>
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/232011936" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 ……   and a group of terminal palps. See next.
</p>
<p>
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/232012791" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 I wondered for a long time trying to realize what could they be.  Taking into account we have learnt these animals breathe through their body wall, you try to guess different processes related to this structures: secretion, reproduction, ..but not respiration.  Nevertheless,
 <strong>
  and this is what I meant as real biology learning:
 </strong>
</p>
<p>
 1º If you see those palps can get in an out   (protude) constantly.
</p>
<p>
 2º Have kept the water sample for some days, which probably means less available oxygen.
</p>
<p>
 3º Notice the “blood”  moving and see it reddens the palps which show an uneven surface, increasing the area in contact with water.
</p>
<p>
 4º. Realize  these structures can act as water turbines as they are covered with cilia and, therefore, remove poor oxygen sorrounding water for a richer one (see in next video).
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/232013194" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 5º Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera,..
</p>
<p>
 Only then, you are learning real biology. Indeed, these palps are gases exchange surfaces. They are GILLS!!! Wow!!! I hope you can observe a kind of loop inside every palp in the next image. It represents a vessel running along its inner surface.
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="IMG_4516.png" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_26619/IMG_4516.png">
  <img alt="IMG_4516" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-26614 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="26614" 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_4516" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1333" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_26619/IMG_4516.png" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p>
 In conclusion,  I feel there is a vast array of contents we should try not to teach as  dogmas. This goal can be approached  facilitating this kind of experiences in schools in order to achieve  significant biology learning.
</p>
<p>
 Thanks for reading.
</p>
<p>
 Cristina Bosch
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>


The way I wish I had been taught.

<p>
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="IMG_4803-e1514683301598.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_29700/IMG_4803-e1514683301598.jpg">
  <img alt="IMG_4803" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29740 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="29740" 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_4803" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1662" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_29700/IMG_4803.jpg" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p>
 Yesterday,  whilst I was strolling in my city , I found some spiderwort species growing vigorously nearby and instantly
</p>
<figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-29720" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_29720" style="width: 3000px">
 <a alt="Enlight2.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_29700/Enlight2.jpg">
  <img alt="dig" class="size-full wp-image-29720 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="29720" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"PRA-LX1","caption":"dig","created_timestamp":"1514549628","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.83","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.01","title":"dig","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="dig" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1000" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_29700/Enlight2.jpg" width="1000"/>
 </a>
 <figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-29720">
  <span style="font-size: 1.8rem">
   reminded that once,  in a past microcosmos post, I had read it was an ideal candidate to observe meiosis. As it is obvious, my plan will have to wait until it begins to blossom but, in the meantime, I felt curious about its colourful leaves. After grabbing some of them (
  </span>
  😇😇
  <span style="font-size: 1.8rem">
   , feeling a little bit guilty but knowing it was worth doing it
  </span>
  🔬😉
  <span style="font-size: 1.8rem">
   ), and when I got  back home, I got my Foldscope and began solving this new inquiry.
  </span>
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>
 This is what I saw:  epidermal cells and beautiful stomata amongst them. To my surprise, some (four?) subsidiary cells sorround the two guard cells that  make an stomata, a fact I did not know before this observation.
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/249200861" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 I hope you can distinguish the vast array of chloroplasts inside the guard cells. Nevertheless, I decided to try with the high magnification lens and see what I was so lucky to watch!
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/249202406" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 The guard cells bulge and control the aperture between them (in black).
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/249203147" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 I wanted to better distinguish each cell using a blue food dye, but it was not useful.
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/249203174" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 Finally, I decided to try a very thin “loaf” of one leaf in my Foldscope, and saw this absolutely amazing  scaffolding of cells .
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/249204348" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
</p>
<p>
 This arrangement lets them  funtion as living factories of the mollecules of life. In this orchestra of  cells, stomata act as carbon dioxide sinks. A lot to think about this!
</p>
<p>
 Happy new year and thanks for reading!
</p>
<p>
 Cristina Bosch
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>


Carbon dioxide sinks

<p>
 <a alt="IMG_20180121_150825.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_38353/IMG_20180121_150825.jpg">
  <img alt="dav" class="size-full wp-image-38348 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="38348" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"PRA-LX1","caption":"dav","created_timestamp":"1516547306","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.83","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.001468","title":"dav","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="dav" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1333" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_38353/IMG_20180121_150825.jpg" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p>
 This is an overview of the site where I had the chance to sample some months ago. I learned how to manage doing so by reading this post:
</p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="8S6cZccOl2">
 <p>
  <a href="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?p=15327">
   Growing diatoms
  </a>
 </p>
</blockquote>
<p>
 <iframe class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="8S6cZccOl2" frameborder="0" height="338" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-scripts" scrolling="no" security="restricted" src="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?p=15327&amp;embed=true#?secret=8S6cZccOl2" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" title="“Growing diatoms” — Microcosmos" width="600">
 </iframe>
</p>
<p>
 Biodiversity has proven to be mindblowing! Ecosystems harboring several  ecosystems….. Such an intricate net! This is only a humble exemplification. Should I slightly reflect reality, sampling would be  more than endless!
</p>
<p>
 Today’s subject are
 <strong>
  diatoms
 </strong>
 . Some live on algae that grow on the seashore rocks. Some kind of a Christmas tree..!😀
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="IMG_5207.png" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_38353/IMG_5207.png">
  <img alt="IMG_5207" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-38362 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="38362" 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_5207" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1333" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_38353/IMG_5207.png" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/272667611" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 Here is a closer look:
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/270140488" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 Another diatom, observed under a foldscope high-mag lens:
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/272675916" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 I must say I have gone through this document (http://mdc.ulpgc.es/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/MDC/id/156053/rv/singleitem) for several times but cannot find the right genus of these species.
</p>
<p>
 Interaction in unicellular organisms is amazing ! Some of these diatoms can live either attached to macroscopic algae (benthonic) or  freely on their own (planktonic) during their life. Why, when and how do they “make up those decisions”?
</p>
<p>
 Next one must be
 <i>
  Climacosphenia moniligera.
 </i>
 Septae running along its frustules make it easy to recognize.
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="IMG_20170724_175752.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_38353/IMG_20170724_175752.jpg">
  <img alt="dig" class="size-full wp-image-26441 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="26441" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"PRA-LX1","caption":"dig","created_timestamp":"1500919075","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.83","iso":"80","shutter_speed":"0.025","title":"dig","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="dig" data-recalc-dims="1" height="750" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_38353/IMG_20170724_175752.jpg" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="IMG_20170413_171520.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_38353/IMG_20170413_171520.jpg">
  <img alt="dig" class="size-full wp-image-23826 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="23826" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"PRA-LX1","caption":"dig","created_timestamp":"1492103724","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.83","iso":"80","shutter_speed":"0.025","title":"dig","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="dig" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1333" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_38353/IMG_20170413_171520.jpg" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/213204237" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 Using a foldscope can let us move small structures or microorganisms in order to spin them and watch them from all angles: valve and girdle view in this case.
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/272825541" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 To end with, I also found something strange growing on this green algae…. It was really frequent…Another epibiont? Any guess?
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="IMG_5208.png" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_38353/IMG_5208.png">
  <img alt="IMG_5208" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-38363 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="38363" 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_5208" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1333" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_38353/IMG_5208.png" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p>
 Check it here:
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/272674191" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 Bonus:
</p>
<p>
 1@. This is a freshwater diatom clinging to a plant root. So plain and so beautiful!
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="IMG_3951-e1487617012869.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_38353/IMG_3951-e1487617012869.jpg">
  <img alt="IMG_3951" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-23051 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="23051" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPad","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1483642513","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.28","iso":"250","shutter_speed":"0.058823529411765","title":"","orientation":"6"}' data-image-title="IMG_3951" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1338" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_38353/IMG_3951.jpg" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p>
 2@. Playing with centric (left) and pennate (right) diatoms!
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/272670920" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 Till next post!
</p>
<p>
 Cristina Bosch
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>


Algal dwellers

<p>
 Dear foldscope community:
</p>
<p>
 Since I own a foldscope, spending a day anywhere has had an enriched focus. For example, going to the beach, apart from staring at its beautiful features, sharing conversations with family  and friends, and much more, has granted me the opportunity to know my swimming-mates better😃😃. Uncountless, let me say, but let me introduce you two of them.
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="1B5D88D2-18EB-407A-BBBF-813D45485537-e1533325282812.jpeg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_52514/1B5D88D2-18EB-407A-BBBF-813D45485537-e1533325282812.jpeg">
  <img alt="1B5D88D2-18EB-407A-BBBF-813D45485537" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-52520 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="52520" 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="1B5D88D2-18EB-407A-BBBF-813D45485537" data-recalc-dims="1" height="840" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_52514/1B5D88D2-18EB-407A-BBBF-813D45485537.jpeg" width="1000"/>
 </a>
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/181119679" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/282266659" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 <div class="embed-vimeo" style="text-align: center;">
  <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/282464287" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="1000">
  </iframe>
 </div>
</div>
<p>
 Indeed, both are larvae. The first one is benthonic, but I am not sure what it will be as an adult. I find it very cute, spinning and so roundish. The second specimen is obviously planktonic…… so many appendages. …..   It must be a drifter… a polichaete larval phase? If I am mistaken, please let me know.  I wonder what is the use of all those long protruding setae/articulated appendages… apart from floating. And are those big black dots eyes? By the way, I think it broke into two, although it continues to move!!!
</p>
<p>
 Well, you might now understand what I ment before. …. a new focus, absolutely!
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
 Thanks for reading
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
 Cristina Bosch Esteva
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>


An entirely new focus

<p>
 If I was given the chance to be an organelle, I would rather mute into a chloroplast, so magnificently coiled as the ones Spirogyra exhibits. It definitely must be amazing to make oxigen and organic compounds staring at the sun.
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
 This is my very first attempt with foldscope, lacking high amplification lens and led light, but obstinacy can be profitable sometimes.
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
 Cheers!
</p>
<p>
 Cristina
 <a alt="image251.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_7693/image251.jpg">
  <img alt="image" class="size-medium wp-image-7691 alignright gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="7691" 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="image" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_7693/image251.jpg" width="300"/>
 </a>
</p>


Spirogyra&#8217;s beautiful chloroplasts

<p>
 Los rotíferos fueron observados,descritos y dibujados por el grandísimo microscopista holandés Leeuwenhoek, hace ya más de tres siglos.  Los llamó
 <em>
  animálculos que ruedan
 </em>
 . Estas ilustraciones son un pequeño homenaje a él pues tener la fortuna de poder usar un foldscope puede hacernos revivir lo que debió sentir aquel pañero en una Europa que desconocía el mundo de los microorganismos y que, sin estudios superiores y con un ingenio superlativo, retó a los científicos de la Real Sociedad de Londres.
</p>
<p>
 Rotifera were observed, described and drawn by the greatest dutch microscopist Leeuwenhoek, about three centuries ago. He named them
 <em>
  wheeled animalcules
 </em>
 . These videos are a tribute to him due to the incredible experience that the use of foldscope has meant to me: the wonder of discovering the tiniest, just as this textile merchant must have felt in an European continent unaware of the microcosmos. He himself, with no University attendance and an awesome ingeniosity, challenged the scientific members at the London Royal Society.
</p>
<p>
 En este vídeo se puede observar cómo son capaces de crear torbellinos de agua gracias a la corona de cilios. Asimismo, se percibe el movimiento del mástax, órgano faríngeo para la digestión mecánica.
</p>
<p>
 In this video, water whirls created by their crowns of cilia can be observed. The movement of the jaws located in the pharynx are visible too.
 <br/>
 <a alt="trim.32C6D36C-D881-4E2B-8502-1EFF7504F8DE.mov" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_9629/trim.32C6D36C-D881-4E2B-8502-1EFF7504F8DE.mov">
  trim.32C6D36C-D881-4E2B-8502-1EFF7504F8DE
 </a>
</p>
<p>
 La lucha constante por atraer pequeños microorganismos actuando como verdaderas aspiradoras acuáticas.
</p>
<p>
 The continuous struggle to attract smaller microorganisms acting as aquatic “vacuum-cleaners”.
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="trim.7CF72E10-5705-482E-A794-B17774FDD079.mov" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_9629/trim.7CF72E10-5705-482E-A794-B17774FDD079.mov">
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<p>
 No siempre viven fijos a un sustrato, sino que pueden desplazarse nadando mediante el movimiento de sus cilios.
</p>
<p>
 They do not always live attatched to soil or debris, and can swim around by moving their cilia.
 <br/>
 <a alt="trim.EC849014-CCDB-4777-AB63-0C4582354E73.mov" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_9629/trim.EC849014-CCDB-4777-AB63-0C4582354E73.mov">
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<p>
 Cheers!
</p>
<p>
 Cristina
</p>


Animálculos que ruedan / Wheeled animalcules

<p>
 <a alt="image258.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_9983/image258.jpg">
  <img alt="image" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-9973" data-attachment-id="9973" 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":"1"}' data-image-title="image" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://i2.wp.com/microcosmos.foldscope.com/wp-content/uploads/image258.jpg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1" width="225"/>
 </a>
</p>
<p>
 I found this worm in a fresh water sample and saw how it pulled in and out its blueish stiffened and short hairs. A climber in this microscopic universe.
</p>
<p>
 Cristina
</p>
<p>
 <a alt="trim.D120BF5A-634B-4EF0-B3DF-4424F2129B2E.mov" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_9983/trim.D120BF5A-634B-4EF0-B3DF-4424F2129B2E.mov">
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</p>


Cristina Bosch Esteva

Earth

Posts

Mosses or a world of wonders

Teaching histology (plant tissue) using foldscope.

Why is this happening🧐?

More on Rotifers….to be continued.

Locations

Statistics

Type of Sample

Foldscope Lens Magnification