BIOL2201_2026
Apr 03, 2026 • 4:57 AM UTC
Canada
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Non-Living
Reka Lajtha
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I was curious to see what the placebo pills in a birth control packet which are dubbed 'sugar pills' looked like under the microscope. Do they resemble sugar? Looking into the ingredient list, they frequently are made of cellulose, lactose or starch. Considering this and their powdery consistency I was hoping they would look a bit like powdered sugar or cornstarch maybe! It was weirdly difficult to get a good, clear picture in the foldscope. I am not sure what this could be due to, but I am presenting the clearest photos I was able to take. (Below is pictured a crushed up bit of pill and most likely some contamination from my desk)
Comparing this with pictures of salt, this sample is much finer and less geometric. This is makes sense considering that when I crushed the pill it was powdery and dull as opposed to crystal like and sparkly like table salt or granulated sugar. I wasn't able to find many pictures of powdered sugar under the microscope unfortunately and do not have any on hand to make the comparison. When I looked up samples of cornstarch it appeared much finer than the product I had.
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