Merismopedia - A Raft Of Cyanobacteria Cells

"Merismopedia is a genus of cyanobacteria found in fresh and salt water. It is ovoid or spherical in shape and arranged in rows and flats, forming rectangular colonies held together by a mucilaginous matrix. Species in this genus divide in only two directions, creating a characteristic grid-like pattern."

One of the earliest forms of life, cyanobacteria are a hydrogen based life form and lucky for us, large amounts of oxygen is it's byprodunt.
Found in a sample of Mississippi River water taken from just below the sewage treatment plant on Isle La Plume, a mile below La Crosse Wisconsin.

I have installed my new/used Phase Contrast Condenser for the Nikon Fluophot, a very rare item. I do not have any Phase objective lenses for it just yet, but can use the zero position for Brightfield and by turning the dial just off center, I can produce right or left side Oblique lighting, which has the effect of showing the shape of things better than plain brightfiled.

The video link.

1. 400x.

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[Scottie]"Captain the Phase Contrast Condenser is about to blow"[/scottie]
[kirk]" zero position for Brightfield by turning the dial just off center"[/kirk]

Disaster avoided

Excellent shots Mitch, the apparent perspective makes the shots easier to read, at least for me.

HAHA, I'm a lifelong Trekkie myself. Still watch them when they are on, even the new versions.

My microscope is Circa 1985. Only 26 years ago, this thing cost upwards of $20,000. A huge amount of advances have taken place since then, in lenses, glass and in the control of light. In those days, Phase Contrast was fairly new and the cat's meow, but while still used, it has taken a back seat to differential interference contrast, which brings the light microscope almost up to the resolving power of the electron microscope. That is still out of my league though.

But one thing the phase condenser can do well, is to offset the light coming up through it to make it appear to come from one side or the other and cast shadows, giving it a 3D effect. It really brings out the shape of things.

The Fluophot phase condenser also looks like the Enterprise.

Really nice picture, it looks like screens where you choose your seats in cinema ticket counters!

Hi Shek, thanks for looking. Or maybe an outdoor drive in from the air?

Interesting organism - good shots
Brian v.

Thanks for looking Brian. Having seen these before in images, I knew what it was right away. It was a scramble to get the camera set up and ready to go so I didn't miss the opportunity.