Yahoo groups:
'Microscope' 
'Microscopes'
'Wild M20 microscope'
'Microscopy for kids' 
'microcosmo' for Italian speaking enthusiasts
'microscopies' for French speaking enthusiasts

Mikroskopie-Treff.de
(Extensive German microscopy forum; some English categories.)

Newsgroups
sci.techniques.microscopy

Royal Microscopical Society's online forum (follow Forum link)
 
 

Other sites
Beyond Magazine
Light Microscopy Forum
Molecular Expressions
Dennis Kunkel's SEM images
Microscopies
Micrographia
Fun Science Gallery
G. Couger's microscopy links
Society for Amateur Scientists

Web rings
Lightscapes polarised light macroscopy/microscopy, both artistic and scientific.
 
 

 
Safe microscopic techniques for amateurs. Mounting microscopic subjects. Part 3b - Mixed mounting media - In part B of this four part article, Walter Dioni (Mexico) assesses PVA-lactic acid and PVA-glycerol based mountants that can be safely prepared and used by the amateur. 

Metallographic imaging with homebuilt instruments - Ted Clarke (USA) shares his ingenious and elegant designs for metallurgy studies; illustrated with examples comparing epi objectives with standard objectives.

Micro-Art gallery #1 - crystals - Richard Howey (USA) shares a stunning selection of images that can be obtained with chemicals available in the home when viewed between crossed polarisation filters.

Exploration of the human spinal cord - Gregor Overney (USA) presents a fascinating exploration of what can be seen and learnt of the spinal chord structure when studying prepared slides with different staining protocols.

Phase contrast illumination of crystals - 'Crossed polars' is probably the first choice of illumination chosen for crystals, but in this article, Brian Johnston (Canada) shows that under phase contrast certain crystals and slides can give some superb results.

Image gallery: Diatoms from my slide collection. Part 2 - Ian Walker (UK) shares a second selection of attractive images from prepared slides he has acquired. Images are taken with a Nikon Coolpix 4500.

When the light goes out - Paul James (UK) shares some simple but functional designs for temporary or permanent light sources/mounts when a specialist microscope bulb fails, using the Wild M20 stand as an example. He shows that simple torch bulbs can be quite sufficient for much visual work.

Image gallery: Spring time colours in England - Ian Walker (UK) shares a selection of macro images taken on a Nikon Coolpix 4500 which reflect springtime in the north of England where he lives.

Enjoying old slides II - Dave Walker (UK) shares a second selection of old slides he has enjoyed viewing. He tries the popular software program CombineZ to image some difficult to photograph thick specimens.
 
 
 

Enthusiasts' web sites in focus:  Peter Wolff has an informative illustrated article on his experiences of flatbed scanner macroscopy on his web site www.photographical.net. The site includes plenty of tips and other examples of the author's excellent photography. David Young, a regular contributor to Micscape, is building up his own web site with a special emphasis on his interest in amateur myrmecology (studying ants). Editor's note: Micscape would be pleased to hear of readers' own web sites which have microscopy / macroscopy content of interest to the enthusiast.

Contacting authors: If any reader has problems contacting authors using the site's new e-mail script, please check the E-mail FAQ.

We are delighted to receive contributions small or large from microscopy enthusiasts. If you have an image, tip or article, why not share it, this magazine is what you make it! Have a chat with us, to see how we can help share your interests.