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The
smallest page on the web UPDATED: This
beautifully illustrated introduction to
some freshwater organisms was first published
in 1998 by Wim van Egmond (The Netherlands)
and has become Microscopy-UK's most popular
resource. Wim has extensively updated the
suite to coincide with our 100th issue and includes
new animations, additional text, images and
organisms.
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An
anniversary: 100 months of Micscape magazine
- Maurice Smith (UK), the co-founder of Micscape and parent
Microscopy-UK site owner/coordinator, shares his views on
the venture's progress to date and discusses some interesting
ideas for the future.
The
microscopic virtues of mud - Brian
Darnton (UK) describes and shares his enthusiasm for a profitable
foraminifera collecting site; the Westerschelde River mud,
The Netherlands.
Image
gallery: Foraminifera from the Westerschelde, The Netherlands - A
complementary article to Brian Darnton's. Christina Brodie
(UK) presents some of her beautiful drawings using
the 'scraperboard' technique which she has made of typical
species in this habitat.
Series
on marine phytoplankton: The silicoflagellate Dictyocha
- Rene van Wezel (UK) describes and illustrates a fascinating
marine organism. Includes animated sequential focus studies.
Historical
snippet: Medal awarded to the microscope maker C. Baker
at the 'United Provinces Exhibition Allahabad 1910' - Howard
Westlake (UK) shares illustrations of this interesting medal
which he possesses and who would be interested in learning more
about the exhibition and the microscope maker C. Baker.
Hensoldt
(Wetzlar) microscope
- Ed Murray (South Africa) describes and illustrates the
features of this well specified monocular microscope which he recently
purchased and would be interested to hear from readers who
can provide more info' on either the maker or this model.
Lens
cleaning: best practice review - Colin
Duke (UK) presents a valuable overview of recommended practices
for cleaning microscope optics front lens surfaces
and the precautions that need to be taken.
Botanical Microtechnique Part 1.
Fixing, dehydrating & embedding plant material - Jim
Battersby (UK) starts a new series on botanical microtechniques
that are of particular value to the microscopy enthusiast
finding it difficult to source reagents.
Dicotyledon
stem: for the beginner botanist from a beginner
botanist - Walter
Dioni (Mexico), a zoologist, describes his trials at using
a simple homemade microtome to study and photograph the features
of a typical dicotyledon plant, Portulaca.
A
close-up view of the strange wildflower 'Viper's bugloss'
(Echium vulgare) -
Brian Johnston (Canada) continues his series of macro and
micro explorations of common plants with this striking selection
of images.
Studying
the OU S260 thin rock sections under the microscope
- thin rock section
slides can be expensive, but the Open University sets are
relatively good value. Ian Walker (UK) describes and illustrates
his studies with the S260 set using the Leica CME microscope
modified for polarizing studies.
Open University S260
thin rock sections. Selected image gallery -
an image gallery to complement the article above by Ian
Walker (UK).
Collimating
low power stereo optics
- Paul James (UK) describes how a single objective design
stereo 'scope with badly aligned eyepiece tubes was brought
back into alignment.
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History
is made on Mars: Phew, that was close! The
NASA Mars rover Spirit seems to be performing
well again after a scary moment (apparently
with its 'flash memory', but don't
we all have trouble with our memory occasionally).
The rover has made history by using its
'microscopic imager' to take the first close-ups of
another planet. It's great to see NASA/JPL
remark on this historical moment when they
released these images and highlights what an
important role macroscopy and microscopy play
alongside the sophisticated instruments on the
rovers. Visit NASA's
web site to view early images taken
by the 'microscopic imager' which include
3D and 'variable focus' shots. The second rover
Opportunity should shortly be exploring in close-up
the second landing site.
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In
focus:
Clubs/Societies:
UK
microscopical society news. See the News
section below for two society meetings to be
held in March by the Reading Microscopical Society.
Also details are given for the Frank Rowntree
Meeting hosted by the Leeds Microscopical Society. Society news kindly supplied by Kit
Brownlee and Mike Smith respectively.
(American)
Microscope Historical Society (MHS): Visit
the MHS
web site for valuable membership details,
benefits and publications. The web site
states that the Historical Microscope Society
of Canada merged with the MHS in January
2004. A document
in rtf format summarising the society membership
benefits and providing a selection of recent
MHS articles published in the MHS Journal has been kindly sent
to us by Dr Manuel del Cerro.
Microscopy
enthusiast's web sites:
Steve Durr is
well known for his excellent photomicrography.
His own web site 'An introduction to photomicrography'
at http://www.btinternet.com/~stephen.durr/
presents a range of valuable resources and
illustrations of his work.
People:
Wim van Egmond, one of
Micscape's contributors and a very fine
photomicrographer and artist, is the 'Featured
Microscopist' for the Fall 2003 on the superb
Molecular
Expressions web site.
Congratulations
to Ian Walker, an amateur microscopist
and Micscape contributor. He was one of the
two runners-up in the recent photographic competition
organised by The
Biochemist magazine of the Biochemical Society
(UK).
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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.
