ARCHIVE ISSUE: Micscape Magazine, exploring the miniature world

MICSCAPE
(ISSN 1365 - 070x)

Exploring the miniature world

Issue 150: April 2008.
Next update May 13th.

The 150th issue of Micscape. Many thanks to all our contributors, site supporters and visitors.

Image left:
Vorticella, one of the many new exhibits in the 'Micropolitan Museum of Microscopic Art' forms curated by Wim van Egmond.

The jpeg 'animation' uses the 'Image Cycler' script written by D Keith Higgs.
One of the free JavaScripts provided by The JavaScript Source .

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April 23rd: The free downloadable version of the April Micscape is now online, please see Archive section below.
(Note that the downloadable version includes a link to the online 'Micropolitan Museum 2008' as this is too large a resource to include as a download.)

April 27th: The Gallery is now accessible again.

Issue 150 - April 2008 : Articles this month

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The 2008 extension of the Micropolitan Museum of microscopic art forms - the museum celebrates many aspects of the wonders of the microscopic world with all the stunning images created by Wim van Egmond (Netherlands) and who has considerably extended the number of exhibits in the galleries. (Wim thanks Trevor Roberts for his help.)

Microscopic Miracles. Chapter 1 - Pteropods - Cheryl Gilpin (USA) shares her enthusiasm for these small swimming marine molluscs ('sea butterflies') in this illustrated article.

Using light emitting diodes with fibre optic systems - Robert Pavlis (USA) describes a homemade fibre optic lighting setup.

Neophyte explores Pliocene shells - Charles Suslavage (USA) describes and illustrates the fascinating fossil organisms found in the debris within larger shells.

A close-up view of a 'lupine hybrid' - Brian Johnston (Canada) illustrates the attractive features of this tree on the macro and microscopic scale.

Ernst Leitz Stativ 'A' monocular microscope - Ian Walker (UK) shares illustrated 'notes on the refurbishing of a fine design ca. 1910' with some items fixed using materials around the house without requiring engineering facilities.

Another rant about the price of books - Richard Howey (USA) discusses the unrealistic prices often asked for specialist used books.

A close-up view of the 'single-seed hawthorn' - Brian Johnston (Canada) illustrates the attractive features of this tree on the macro and microscopic scale.

A crystalline herbal and bestiary: A journey to an alien world Part 3 - Richard Howey (USA) continues his illustrated fantasy where the author visits an alien planet with a local host describing its exotic fauna and flora.

Optimal output from the Abbe - Paul James (UK) discusses an illustrates the use of this condenser and presents 'a case for bending the rules?'

Spring pond dip - David Walker (UK) shares 'a snapshot of life in a back garden pond in northern England'.

Preparing and using your own hematein staining solutions using crude logwood - Yvan Lindekens (Belgium) describes techniques for preparing and using this stain.

Notes on using a Victorian compressorium on a modern microscope - David Walker's (UK) observations on using one design of compressorium on a modern stand.

In focus:

' Millennium Health Microscope Foundation' - 'Latest progress' on the design including external and internal details of the Millennium Microscope is on the website of this charitable foundation. The website also describes the aim of the venture and are seeking sponsors and donations. With thanks to Keith Dunning for the information, who writes.

We are progressing very well on this project having recently obtained support from the Wellcome Trust which will take us to the first pre-production prototype of the new microscope. For a full technical update please go to www.millennium-microscope.org .

We are now embarking on the raising of second-stage funding. This will enable us to build a series of 'Alpha' models and to fund tropical field trials later this year. We are seeking £50K to achieve this objective and any visibility you can give to our cause would be gratefully received.

We are delighted to receive contributions small or large from microscopy enthusiasts whether a novice or expert. 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. Submission guidelines .

Micscape Archive

Look for that elusive article on our site:
Micscape Magazine past issues online (read articles online using the original illustrated index for each month).
Micscape magazine downloadable issues - download a zip file of current or past issues for an offline resource.
Article Library (browse articles by category)
Automated Search (limited keyword search: by subject, author, or list articles in a past issue).
Contributor index (a list of all Micscape contributors to date)

News - special notices - misc.

'Microscience 2008 International Conference and Exhibition', details at www.microscience2008.org.uk. This event, sponsored by the Royal Microscopical Society, takes place at London's ExCel, 23-26th June this year. The event includes the 'RMS Learning Zone' which is free to exhibition visitors, where they can learn about aspects of optical, electron and digital microscopy. With thanks to Alison Wilson the RMS Exhibitions Manager for the information.

External links. Below are some of our favourites, which includes sites with extensive links and/or resources for the optical microscopy enthusiast.

External Microscopy forums:
Places to discuss the hobby or to raise queries.

www.amateurmicrography.net forums, galleries, articles on macroscopy and photomicrography.

Newsgroups
sci.techniques.microscopy

Yahoo groups: a ' P' denotes current and archived messages are public i.e. not limited to members.
' Microscope ' P (>1500 members, very active)
' Microscopes '
'Microscopehobby' P (started Apr 2005)
'RealMicroscopy' P (started Sep 2005)
' Óptica Roma foro Microscopía' for Spanish speakers
' Wild M20 microscope '
' Nikon Coolpix photomicro and macrophoto '
' microcosmo ' ( for Italian speaking enthusiasts)
' CombineZ ' P stacking software forum created by the software's author

Mikroskopie-Treff.de (Extensive German microscopy forum; some English categories.)
Mikrobiologische Vereinigung München e. V. W ide range of articles and resources in German.
Le Naturaliste French based forum and image gallery for micro / macro but open to non French speaking international contributors.

Other sites
Beyond Magazine science, microscopy for youngsters
Clubs / Socs (Pro/Am) Mic-UK links page
Light Microscopy Forum links and articles
Little Imp Publications public domain books on CD, 'The Amateur Diatomist' paper magazine
Mikroskop Museum German website with resources on microscopes / makers .
Molecular Expressions awesome optical microscopy resources
Dennis Kunkel's SEM images stunning images
Leitz museum an illustrated resource compiled by Robert Allen
Microscopies online magazine and Forum for French speakers
Micrographia articles, projects for the enthusiast
Microscopy Today paper journal with online archive
Modern Microscopy online journal by McCrone Group
Fun Science Gallery projects, articles on optics
G. Couger's microscopy links extensive links
Society for Amateur Scientists resources and support
www.viewsfromscience.com projects e.g. chilled stage for crystal growth studies and LED fluorescence
www.amateurmicrography.net articles and other resources

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

Microscopy-UK and Micscape - established 1995

Micscape is a free magazine for enthusiasts funded by Microscopy-UK and dedicated to non-commercial microscopy.

www.microscopy-uk.org.uk with full mirror at www.microscopy-uk.net.