Aatish Bhatia

Hello there. I’m
 <a alt="aatishb" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11192/aatishb">
 Aatish
 </a>
 , a science blogger, and I’m super excited to get my hands on a foldscope and connect with the foldscope community here.


 I assembled the kit yesterday, and then plucked a leaf from a
 <a alt="Mandarin_orange" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11192/Mandarin_orange">
 Mandarin orange
 </a>
 tree in my backyard at home in Delhi. According to
 <a href="http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/42604/8/08_chapter%203.pdf">
 this source
 </a>
 , this plant grows widely in India and was apparently brought here from China in the 8th century.


 <a alt="mandarintree.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11192/mandarintree.jpg">
 <img alt="mandarintree" class="aligncenter wp-image-11194 size-full gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11194" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451119532","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"64","shutter_speed":"0.016666666666667","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="mandarintree" data-recalc-dims="1" height="495" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11192/mandarintree.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>


 Here’s a closer look at its leaves.


 <a alt="mandarinorange2.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11192/mandarinorange2.jpg">
 <img alt="mandarinorange2" class="aligncenter wp-image-11195 size-full gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11195" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451119565","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"80","shutter_speed":"0.0083333333333333","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="mandarinorange2" data-recalc-dims="1" height="533" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11192/mandarinorange2.jpg" width="400"/>
 </a>


 Beautiful, isn’t it? I love this tree. The first thing I noticed on plucking the leaf is its wonderful citrus smell. I cut out a small chunk of the leaf, stuck it on a slide, and slipped it under the foldscope. Here’s what I saw.


 <a alt="IMG_7079.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11192/IMG_7079.jpg">
 <img alt="IMG_7079" class="aligncenter wp-image-11193 size-full gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11193" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451046798","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"125","shutter_speed":"0.05","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_7079" data-recalc-dims="1" height="880" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11192/IMG_7079.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>


 You’re looking at the edge of where I cut the leaf. Here’s a closer look at the surface of the leaf (towards the top right.)


 <a alt="citrus-leaf-dots.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11192/citrus-leaf-dots.jpg">
 <img alt="citrus leaf dots" class="size-full wp-image-11199 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11199" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451069586","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.05","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="citrus leaf dots" data-recalc-dims="1" height="495" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11192/citrus-leaf-dots.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>


 I was kind of mesmerized by this, and tweeted out a question. (Click the video to see what I was looking at.)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550">
 
 Checking out a leaf from my backyard under the
 <a alt="foldscope" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11192/foldscope">
 #foldscope
 </a>
 . Are those stomata — the pores through which it breathes?
 <a alt="ChJvFWSWHw" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11192/ChJvFWSWHw">
 pic.twitter.com/ChJvFWSWHw
 </a>
 
 
 — Aatish Bhatia (@aatishb)
 <a alt="680398993948454912" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11192/680398993948454912">
 December 25, 2015
 </a>
 
</blockquote>

 <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js">
 </script>


 The thing that puzzled me were those holes. There are two kinds, the little ones, and the big ones that seem to almost cut right through the leaf — you can see the light shining brightly through. I was curious what was going on here. At first I thought these were stomata (the air-holes through which a leaf breathes), but
 <a alt="680400667945644033" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11192/680400667945644033">
 Manu pointed
 </a>
 out that those are much smaller. So that wasn’t what I was seeing.


 And then a friend on twitter solved the puzzle:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550">
 
 <a alt="aatishb" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11192/aatishb">
 @aatishb
 </a>
 <a alt="PrakashLab" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11192/PrakashLab">
 @PrakashLab
 </a>
 Those are gland dots found in most citrus/Rutaceae leaves. The lime smell…
 
 
 — T R Shankar Raman (@mizoraman)
 <a alt="680410135060033536" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11192/680410135060033536">
 December 25, 2015
 </a>
 
</blockquote>

 <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js">
 </script>


 Isn’t that neat? So the dots I’m looking at are the glands from where that delightful citrus scent emanates. The technical term for these structures are
 <a alt="search" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11192/search">
 pellucid dots
 </a>
 , so if you want to read more about them, that’s the term to google for. And you can read more
 <a href="http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/42604/8/08_chapter%203.pdf">
 here
 </a>
 about the chemistry of this scent, and the various chemical compounds that create this unique fragrance.


 I’m really happy with my first day using the foldscope. This is my first time owning a microscope (something I’ve long wanted to get my hands on) and the experience is kind of blowing my mind.


 
 Questions
 


 Here are some more questions I was left with after this experience:

<ul>
 <li>
 What are those larger holes? How are they different from the little dots?
 </li>
 <li>
 Could I see the stomata (air-holes) of this leaf if I used the high magnification lens? I tried this out and took a short video, but found it a little hard to focus and couldn’t get a clear sense of what I was seeing. Need to work on this.
 </li>
 <li>
 How similar are these gland dots in different citrus leaves? There’s an orange and a lime tree in my backyard as well, I could try checking out their leaves too…
 </li>
</ul>

 Looking forward to hearing your thoughts, and to more exploring!

Foldscope Day 1: How a Citrus Tree Makes its Scent

In day 2 of foldscoping, I looked around the house for stuff I could put under the microscope.

<h2>
 Scales of Moth Wings
</h2>

 Here’s what a moth wing looks like under the foldscope 140X lens.


 <a alt="IMG_7158.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11234/IMG_7158.jpg">
 <img alt="IMG_7158" class="size-full wp-image-11235 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11235" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451146123","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"64","shutter_speed":"0.016666666666667","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_7158" data-recalc-dims="1" height="880" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11234/IMG_7158.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>


 And here’s what you’d see with your naked eye.


 <a alt="moth-wing-slide.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11234/moth-wing-slide.jpg">
 <img alt="moth wing slide" class="size-full wp-image-11249 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11249" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451149269","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"400","shutter_speed":"0.05","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="moth wing slide" data-recalc-dims="1" height="400" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11234/moth-wing-slide.jpg" width="400"/>
 </a>


 The wing in question belonged to this moth. RIP. (Can anyone id the species?)


 <a alt="moth.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11234/moth.jpg">
 <img alt="moth" class="size-full wp-image-11236 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11236" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451131739","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0037593984962406","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="moth" data-recalc-dims="1" height="660" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11234/moth.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>


 I also took a few images using the high magnification lens (480X), to get an even closer look. I love that you can see individual scales. I also found a few filament-like strands near the edge of the wing, through which the light shimmers in interesting ways.


 <a alt="moth-wing-high-mag.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11234/moth-wing-high-mag.jpg">
 <img alt="moth wing high mag" class="size-full wp-image-11237 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11237" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451150224","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="moth wing high mag" data-recalc-dims="1" height="1000" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11234/moth-wing-high-mag.jpg" width="1000"/>
 </a>


 Here’s a video where I explore the wing under the 140X lens. This is neat because you can see how the parts all fit together in context. There are these (hollow?) tubes that serve as a structural frame for the wing, supporting it and giving it its rigidity (at least that’s my guess about their function).

<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 
 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rJ6CdYyBuSU?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 
</div>
<h2>
 Foldscoping Fungus
</h2>

 Next up, I found some kind of a fungus in some mud in the backyard.


 <a alt="fungus.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11234/fungus.jpg">
 <img alt="fungus" class="size-full wp-image-11238 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11238" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451127605","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.016666666666667","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="fungus" data-recalc-dims="1" height="495" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11234/fungus.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>


 Here’s a closer look where you can see the individual stalks. I think this is probably a
 <a alt="Rhizopus" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11234/Rhizopus">
 rhizopus
 </a>
 fungus.


 <a alt="fungus-zoom.png" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11234/fungus-zoom.png">
 <img alt="fungus zoom" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11239 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11239" 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="fungus zoom" data-recalc-dims="1" height="424" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11234/fungus-zoom.png" width="807"/>
 </a>


 I took a paper slide with a piece of tape on it and gently pressed the fungus to the tape to collect some of it. Here’s what it looks like under the foldscope.


 <a alt="fungus-spores-foldscope.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11234/fungus-spores-foldscope.jpg">
 <img alt="fungus spores foldscope" class="size-full wp-image-11240 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11240" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451128959","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.00075585789871504","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="fungus spores foldscope" data-recalc-dims="1" height="534" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11234/fungus-spores-foldscope.jpg" width="800"/>
 </a>


 What’s cool is that you can actually see the heads of the fungus (the
 <a alt="Sporangium" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11234/Sporangium">
 sporangium
 </a>
 ) packed with
 <a alt="Spore" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11234/Spore">
 spores
 </a>
 .. those are the products of fungal sex. These spores would be carried away by the wind, allowing the fungus to spread. I guess this is also the reason why mold seems to spontaneously generate in rotting food, fungal spores are flying around pretty much everywhere.


 Here’s a video of me exploring this fungus under the foldscope (sorry, forgot to tilt the video before uploading).

<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 
 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UD2IaG-Kr4M?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 
</div>

 Manu suggested
 <a alt="680835731539935232" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11234/680835731539935232">
 on this thread
 </a>
 that I might be able to improve the image quality by using a piece of paper or tape to
 <a href="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?p=9289">
 diffuse the light
 </a>
 , so I’ll try that out next.


 Let me know what you think, and if this spurs any questions.

<h2>
 Foldscope Everything
</h2>

 It’s just been a few days of playing with the foldscope, but I’m already enjoying the shift in perspective that it helps create. You start to look at everything around you as something that you can zoom into, and you wonder what everyday things would look like on a microscopic level. I’m also enjoying the helpful community of microcosm explorers, enthusiasts, and curious foldscopers who are sharing their images, mods and tips, knowledge and ideas. Keep it coming!

Foldscope Day 2: Moth Wings and Fungal Sex Edition

<h2>
 Ants
</h2>

 I stuck an ant under the foldscope. The ant and the foldscope did not disappoint. What looks to the eye approximately like this…


 <a alt="ant-on-a-slide.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/ant-on-a-slide.jpg">
 <img alt="ant on a slide" class="size-full wp-image-11270 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11270" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451218534","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"64","shutter_speed":"0.0083333333333333","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="ant on a slide" data-recalc-dims="1" height="262" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/ant-on-a-slide.jpg" width="400"/>
 </a>


 …under the foldscope, is transformed into this.


 <a alt="ant-head-2.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/ant-head-2.jpg">
 <img alt="ant head 2" class="size-full wp-image-11271 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11271" 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="ant head 2" data-recalc-dims="1" height="371" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/ant-head-2.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>


 <a alt="ant-head.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/ant-head.jpg">
 <img alt="ant head" class="size-full wp-image-11272 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11272" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451217992","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0047846889952153","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="ant head" data-recalc-dims="1" height="638" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/ant-head.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>


 So of course, I had to take a video and explore this ant further. Here’s what I saw. Amazingly, the ant is actually translucent, you can see right inside it!! I wasn’t expecting that. There’s so much to see here… post a comment with something interesting you notice.

<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 
 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n_sZi0hriSk?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 
</div>
<h2>
 Pollen
</h2>

 We have a vase of these flowers at home in Delhi. (Actually, I think they’re meant to be filler for the massive pink flowers behind them.)


 <a alt="flower-bunch.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/flower-bunch.jpg">
 <img alt="flower bunch" class="size-full wp-image-11279 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11279" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451290001","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0060240963855422","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="flower bunch" data-recalc-dims="1" height="495" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/flower-bunch.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>


 Here’s what an individual flower looks like. It’s quite small, about a centimeter across. If you know what flower this is, please post a comment and I’ll update the post.


 <a alt="flower.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/flower.jpg">
 <img alt="flower" class="aligncenter wp-image-11280 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11280" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451289968","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.010526315789474","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="flower" data-recalc-dims="1" height="660" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/flower.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>


 So I took a flower, placed it on a slide and put it under the foldscope (at 140X magnification). Here’s what I saw.


 <a alt="anther-inset.png" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/anther-inset.png">
 <img alt="anther inset" class="size-full wp-image-11285 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11285" 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="anther inset" data-recalc-dims="1" height="611" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/anther-inset.png" width="651"/>
 </a>


 <a alt="IMG_7195.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/IMG_7195.jpg">
 <img alt="IMG_7195" class="size-full wp-image-11262 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11262" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451213923","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0014577259475219","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_7195" data-recalc-dims="1" height="880" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/IMG_7195.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>


 You’re looking at the anther, the part of the flower that makes pollen and is coated with the stuff. Around it are individual grains of pollen. To give you a sense of scale, I estimate the anther in the image above is between 0.3-0.5 mm long. Based on this, I estimate each pollen grain to be about 15 microns in diameter.


 <a alt="IMG_7193.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/IMG_7193.jpg">
 <img alt="IMG_7193" class="size-full wp-image-11261 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11261" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451213788","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0013477088948787","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_7193" data-recalc-dims="1" height="660" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/IMG_7193.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>


 I spent some time staring at these pollen grains. I’m really impressed with how clearly we can see them under the foldscope. It’s kind of mesmerizing to look at…. I’m so curious about their shape.
 <a alt="IMG_7197.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/IMG_7197.jpg">
 <img alt="IMG_7197" class="size-full wp-image-11263 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11263" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451214037","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0014577259475219","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_7197" data-recalc-dims="1" height="660" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/IMG_7197.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>


 I also tried using the high magnification lens (480X) to take a closer look.


 <a alt="IMG_7200.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/IMG_7200.jpg">
 <img alt="IMG_7200" class="size-full wp-image-11264 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11264" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451215644","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.033333333333333","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG_7200" data-recalc-dims="1" height="660" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/IMG_7200.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>


 You can see diffraction rings forming around each pollen grain. That’s interesting.. does this mean 15 microns is running up against the
 <a alt="Diffraction-limited_system" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/Diffraction-limited_system">
 diffraction limit
 </a>
 of this system? I wonder if you could use this image of the fringes to calculate something interesting…

<h2>
 Winterberry
</h2>

 Next up, a friend gifted my parents a bunch of these red berries for the holidays.


 <a alt="berry-context.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/berry-context.jpg">
 <img alt="berry context" class="size-full wp-image-11277 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11277" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5s","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1450795322","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.15","iso":"320","shutter_speed":"0.058823529411765","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="berry context" data-recalc-dims="1" height="880" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/berry-context.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>


 The berries are a kind of holly known as
 <a alt="Ilex_verticillata" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/Ilex_verticillata">
 winterberry
 </a>
 (
 
 Ilex verticillata
 
 ), native to North America. As you can see, they’re incredibly bright red. I was curious to look at the pigment under the microscope, so I peeled the skin and cut off a small piece of the peel to put under the foldscope.


 <a alt="berry-skin.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/berry-skin.jpg">
 <img alt="berry skin" class="size-full wp-image-11266 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11266" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451241814","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0083333333333333","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="berry skin" data-recalc-dims="1" height="660" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/berry-skin.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>


 I think those are probably individual cells I’m seeing. I wondered about what gives this berry peel its bright red color… are its cells dyed with some kind of pigment?


 While panning around, I found a single sheet of cells exposed at the edge of the peel.


 <a alt="berry-skin-edge.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/berry-skin-edge.jpg">
 <img alt="berry skin edge" class="size-full wp-image-11267 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11267" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451241737","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0031545741324921","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="berry skin edge" data-recalc-dims="1" height="495" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/berry-skin-edge.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>


 So I zoomed in to check it out…


 <a alt="cells-closeup.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/cells-closeup.jpg">
 <img alt="cells closeup" class="size-full wp-image-11268 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11268" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451241741","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0031545741324921","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="cells closeup" data-recalc-dims="1" height="495" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/cells-closeup.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>


 I swapped in the high magnification lens to take a closer look.


 <a alt="cells-zoom.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/cells-zoom.jpg">
 <img alt="cells zoom" class="size-full wp-image-11269 aligncenter gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11269" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451242260","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.05","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="cells zoom" data-recalc-dims="1" height="648" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11260/cells-zoom.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>


 It kind of blows my mind that I can just peer into a creature’s cells. I remember wanting to do this when I was 8 or 9 years old (actually back then I was convinced I could see cells with my eyes, but that’s another story).

<h2>
 One more thing…
</h2>

 I’ve been trying with limited success to image a drop of water. I made a video of my first attempt at seeking the creatures lurking in a drop of water. And Manu gave me some tips on imaging life in water. More on this in a post coming shortly.

Foldscope Day 3: Ants, Pollen, and Berries up close

I’ve been trying to image life in a water drop under the foldscope, and found it trickier than I expected. Here’s a video of a recent attempt.

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

 I don’t recognize any of the things I’m looking at, so if anything looks familiar to you, please drop a note in the comments.


 Anyway, I reached out to Manu for some pointers on imaging life in water. I’m pasting below his response.

<blockquote>
 
 Really nice 🙂 Water from a pond has almost an unbounded diversity of life; once you get a hang of how to make slides – it’s really incredible. For an example – see
 <a href="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?p=3500">
 this post
 </a>
 : https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?p=3500
 
 
 
 Tips:
 
 
 1) I think you are using the 450x lens in that video; a lower mag larger field of the view 150x lens is a better starting choice.
 
 
 2) Live water samples requires making slides well. Use a glass slide for best resolution. Put two pieces of tape on two side (double sided tape is provided in the kit); put cover slip on the top. This allows just enough space for the organisms to survive.
 
 
 3) Collect a drop of water from someplace which has a slightly “green” color – due to some algae growth. That’s the best indication that the water is not so polluted that it kills everything – frankly; anytime I have sampled water – it’s always got an incredible diversity.
 
</blockquote>

 Looking forward to trying these tips out!

Tips on Viewing Life in a Water Drop

After many attempts at imaging life in pond water, I finally chanced upon a tiny swimming creature. Thanks for all your
 <a href="https://microcosmos.foldscope.com/?p=11304">
 helpful tips
 </a>
 , which really came in handy.


 Here’s a video of what I saw:

<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 
 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3MNyH-p4ufQ?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 
</div>

 I was super excited to see this (you can probably hear that in my voice). I posted a
 <a alt="682048153357529088" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11375/682048153357529088">
 quick video
 </a>
 on twitter and asked for help identifying what I was looking at, and quickly learned that this was a
 <a alt="Cladocera" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11375/Cladocera">
 water flea
 </a>
 , possibly a
 
 <a alt="Daphnia" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11375/Daphnia">
 Daphnia
 </a>
 
 . (
 
 Thanks to
 <a alt="682067674508181504" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11375/682067674508181504">
 Shreya Dasgupta
 </a>
 ,
 <a alt="682060558095417347" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11375/682060558095417347">
 Subhojit Roy
 </a>
 , and his 8 year old son
 <a alt="682103243464290305" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11375/682103243464290305">
 Vijay
 </a>
 for help identifying it.)
 


 I love the detail that you can make out with the foldscope. You can clearly see the compound eye (reddish center in a black circle), the pouch with eggs in it (wow! So this is a female, and she’s a mom), the tail with what seem to be hairs at the tip (I wonder what their purpose is?), the beating mouth parts, and the antennae beneath the creature.


 This creature was a former resident of the
 <a alt="Hauz_Khas_Complex" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11375/Hauz_Khas_Complex">
 Hauz Khas Water Tank
 </a>
 in Delhi, a structure with a rich history that traces back to the 13th century, when it was created as a water reservoir for Delhi’s newly built
 <a alt="Siri_Fort" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11375/Siri_Fort">
 Siri Fort
 </a>
 .

<figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-11377" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_11377" style="width: 400px">
 <a alt="IMG_7303.png" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11375/IMG_7303.png">
 <img alt="IMG_7303" class="wp-image-11377 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11377" 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_7303" data-recalc-dims="1" height="710" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11375/IMG_7303.png" width="400"/>
 </a>
 <figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-11377">
 GPS pin of where I sampled the water
 </figcaption>
</figure>

 Today, the water in the reservoir has an alarmingly bright green color, and is home to many kinds of aquatic birds. I’ve long wondered what’s in the water, and the foldscope gave me an opportunity to find out first hand. So I collected a jar full of water from the reservoir and put a drop under the foldscope.


 <a alt="hauz-khas-water-jar1.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11375/hauz-khas-water-jar1.jpg">
 <img alt="hauz khas water jar" class="aligncenter wp-image-11385 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11385" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451320566","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0050251256281407","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="hauz khas water jar" data-recalc-dims="1" height="533" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11375/hauz-khas-water-jar1.jpg" width="400"/>
 </a>


 This
 <a alt="Hauz_Khas_Complex" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11375/Hauz_Khas_Complex">
 Hauz Khas complex
 </a>
 (the reservoir and the adjoining parks and monuments) are a threatened oasis of biodiversity among densely urban surroundings. Here are some pictures of the reservoir to give you a sense of the place. I feel like the half-sunken boats and garish green water lend this place a distinctly post-apocalyptic vibe.


 <a alt="hkr2.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11375/hkr2.jpg">
 <img alt="hkr2" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11387 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11387" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451320991","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0023980815347722","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="hkr2" data-recalc-dims="1" height="495" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11375/hkr2.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>


 <a alt="hkr4.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11375/hkr4.jpg">
 <img alt="hkr4" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11389 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11389" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451321082","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0012903225806452","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="hkr4" data-recalc-dims="1" height="495" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11375/hkr4.jpg" width="660"/>
 
 </a>


 <a alt="hkr1.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11375/hkr1.jpg">
 <img alt="hkr1" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11386 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11386" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451320835","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0012360939431397","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="hkr1" data-recalc-dims="1" height="495" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11375/hkr1.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>


 <a alt="hkr3.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11375/hkr3.jpg">
 <img alt="hkr3" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11388 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11388" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451321071","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.0011248593925759","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="hkr3" data-recalc-dims="1" height="321" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11375/hkr3.jpg" width="1000"/>
 </a>


 What do you see in the water flea video? Post a comment with your thoughts / observations / ideas.

Foldscope Day 5: A Water Flea from Hauz Khas, Delhi

<a alt="onioncell1.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11509/onioncell1.jpg">
 <img alt="onioncell1" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11510 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11510" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451905466","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0012722646310433","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="onioncell1" data-recalc-dims="1" height="880" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11509/onioncell1.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>


 A quick post as I’m on the road. My friend
 <a alt="683908065612058624" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11509/683908065612058624">
 Upasana
 </a>
 made this great slide of a thin, translucent slice of onion skin. Here’s a video of what we saw under the foldscope.

<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper">
 
 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BrRYDWjMAB4?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent" style="border:0;" type="text/html" width="1000">
 </iframe>
 
</div>

 I love the sharpness of detail with which you can make out the individual cells. Also, are there some gaps between cells (intercellular spaces) visible in this video (particularly right at the end)?


 Interesting too that the cells are rectangular and oblong. The chef Kenji Lopez
 <a alt="the-burger-lab-whats-the-best-way-to-slice-onions-for-burgers.html" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11509/the-burger-lab-whats-the-best-way-to-slice-onions-for-burgers.html">
 claims
 </a>
 that “the direction you slice your onions will affect the number of cells you [rupture]”, which he claims then affects the overall flavor (i.e. how pungent the raw onions taste). That seems to make sense, given the oblong shape of the cells, but it might be interesting to cut this in both directions and see what it looks / tastes like.


 P.S. As a preview of something else we’re working on imaging, here’s a mosquito wing. I’m curious about those little bristles on the wing tips. (
 <a alt="MosqWing10.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11509/MosqWing10.jpg">
 Click here
 </a>
 for a different look at those structures.) I wonder what they’re for?


 <a alt="mosquito-wing1.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11509/mosquito-wing1.jpg">
 <img alt="mosquito wing" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11512 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="11512" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1451906749","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.12","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0021231422505308","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="mosquito wing" data-recalc-dims="1" height="477" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_11509/mosquito-wing1.jpg" width="660"/>
 </a>

Aatish Bhatia

Earth

Posts

Foldscope Day 3: Ants, Pollen, and Berries up close

Tips on Viewing Life in a Water Drop

Foldscope Day 5: A Water Flea from Hauz Khas, Delhi

Onion Cells Under the Foldscope: Microscopic A’peel

Foldscope Day 1: How a Citrus Tree Makes its Scent

Foldscope Day 2: Moth Wings and Fungal Sex Edition

Foldscope Day 3: Ants, Pollen, and Berries up close

Tips on Viewing Life in a Water Drop

Foldscope Day 5: A Water Flea from Hauz Khas, Delhi

Onion Cells Under the Foldscope: Microscopic A’peel

Foldscope Day 1: How a Citrus Tree Makes its Scent

Foldscope Day 2: Moth Wings and Fungal Sex Edition

Foldscope Day 3: Ants, Pollen, and Berries up close

Tips on Viewing Life in a Water Drop

Foldscope Day 5: A Water Flea from Hauz Khas, Delhi

Onion Cells Under the Foldscope: Microscopic A’peel

Locations

Statistics

Type of Sample

Foldscope Lens Magnification