MtA_BIOL2201_2026 Unknown Organism and Beautiful Plants
Apr 03, 2026 • 7:17 PM UTC
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Jessie Côté
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When I started considering everything I could photograph for my Foldscope biology assignment, I was equally overwhelmed and excited. There were so many good contenders, and they all seemed equally promising. However, I managed to limit myself to plants and microbes.
I started by cutting a small piece of my Oxalis triangularis ; a houseplant with rich purple leaves in clover-like clusters. Despite their seemingly uniform color, the Foldscope revealed some orange and green pigment, too. The image reminds me of a kaleidoscope, or sun through stained glass.
I started by cutting a small piece of my Oxalis triangularis ; a houseplant with rich purple leaves in clover-like clusters. Despite their seemingly uniform color, the Foldscope revealed some orange and green pigment, too. The image reminds me of a kaleidoscope, or sun through stained glass.
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I then sliced a thin, nearly see-through, layer from the skin of an orange bell pepper with a peeler. I was surprised by the clarity of the image (cell walls!) in this one, especially when compared to the Oxalis . The color surprised me again. I expected orange, but the image was much more yellow-green.
Finally, I brainstormed where I was likely to find organisms. I first tried swabbing the drain of my bathroom sink.
I was surprised by the bright turquoise of this thing. I am unsure whether it is debris or some kind of organism, but I was intrigued by the dots in the middle of it (the two?), since they reminded me of a vacuole or maybe some other kind of organelle.
And finally, I was pleasantly surprised when I decided to inspect still water from a container. My eyes were immediately pulled by movement, which I initially chalked up to my shakiness holding my phone, or maybe the movement of air/water bubbles. However, turns out little organisms were bundled up in the corner and swirling around!
And finally, I was pleasantly surprised when I decided to inspect still water from a container. My eyes were immediately pulled by movement, which I initially chalked up to my shakiness holding my phone, or maybe the movement of air/water bubbles. However, turns out little organisms were bundled up in the corner and swirling around!
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The were clear, and almost seemed to have a gel-like texture. But they seem to be moving via peristalsis, so they are almost certainly living organisms.
Unsure what they could be!
This exercise was a good reminder of all the hidden life we might forget we live beside!
This exercise was a good reminder of all the hidden life we might forget we live beside!
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