In a previous post, I described upgrading the light source in my large Olympus microscope. That setup is now in place and here is the first example:

So, what is this?

First, it is at magnification 1,000x Hoffman Modulation Contrast with the Olympus microscope, equipped with my new illumination source. I ordered the same kind of Illuminator as I borrowed from the EXPLORATORIUM for the test. Dave Keller, a retired Aerospace Engineer, helped me machine the 7/8-inch lucite rod connecting the light source to my microscope. This is a sort of “straight line” fiber-optic bundle – in one big rod. The camera is my Nikon Coolpix 885 set at 3x zoom.

Second, the subject is a Diatom surrounded by Cyanobacteria. Inside the Diatom, tiny particles exhibited Brownian Motion.

I do not know that the particles are. I do not think they are bacteria. Each particle could be a Micelle or a Vesicle.

In any case, this videomicrograph shows the power of the new illuminator coupled with the Hoffman Modulation Contrast optics of the microscope.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 10th, 2007 at 5:34 pm and is filed under field microscopy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.