MICSCAPE
(ISSN 1365 - 070x)

Image left: Ted Clarke's neat homemade support for using an Olympus
DSLR with a binocular stereo microscope.

Microscopy-UK welcomes you to  Micscape Magazine

Missed an issue? Just type in the issue date in the form 'feb04' into the Micscape Library search engine. All articles in that issue will be listed.

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The ultimate upgrade - Steve Beats (UK) shares his enjoyment and experiences of using an advanced stand such as the Zeiss ICM 405 research microscope.

Restoring a stereo microscope base with reverse electrolysis - Ian MacGregor (Canada) describes and illustrates a useful technique for restoring certain types of corroded microscope base.

Making your own paraffin sections @ home (part 2) - Yvan Lindekens (Belgium) continues his informative series on microtechnique with illustrated procedures on using a microtome.

A close-up view of two members of the mallow family - Brian Johnston (Canada) presents attractive images of the macroscopic and microscopic features of the 'exotic hibiscus and lowly hollyhock'.

Using an Olympus E-330 DSLR with a binocular stereomicroscope - Ted Clarke (USA) presents a neat homemade support to use this DSLR with a Meiji stereo for photomicroscopy.

Questions to ask an Intelligent Design theorist - Richard Howey (USA) presents an essay on aspects of this topic, concluding a theme from last month's issue.

The iris diaphragm. Prospects of repair? - Paul James (UK) presents a valuable survey of the likely causes of iris faults and provides an illustrated procedure for a typical repair.

A close-up view of the wildflower 'sulphur cinquefoil' - Brian Johnston (Canada) presents images of the macroscopic and microscopic features of this attractive flower.

A trip into the past: Part 2 - Richard Howey (USA) takes a further affectionate look at the quirks of some 19th century American natural history magazines.

Structures from nature: Image gallery - David Walker (UK) marvels at some of the intricate microscopic structures which organisms like radiolaria make out of inorganic compounds.
 

 Feb. 15th. downloadable version now online. See 'Archive' link below.
 

In focus:   BBC News website 'White beetle dazzles scientists' The striking whiteness of a S. E. Asian beetle in the genus Cyphochilus prompted scientists to study its 'unique' scale structure and their findings may provide ideas for industral applications where achieving whiteness is important. The BBC News item highlights the scientists' work and the original paper 'Brilliant whiteness in ultrathin beetle scales' by P. Vukusic, P. Hallam and J. Noyes in Science Magazine Jan. 19th 2007 (local pdf copy courtesy of P. Vukusic). Images of the beetle and its scales below have been generously supplied by one of the scientists Dr Peter Kuvusic, (images not to be further distributed). Also see Dr Peter Vukusic's research page on the University of Exeter website. Click images below to view larger.   Images of the beetle and one of the scientists involved. Images show the scales at increasing mag: two optical images and far right by SEM. Microscopy-UK International Image Gallery: Thank you to the early supporters of the free new image gallery, there's a variety of interesting images to enjoy. Webcam video / still capture software with calibration function: Marien van Westen, an amateur microscopist, has written a valuable webcam software package, who writes: 'I have written a piece of software to use a webcam with a microscope, capture images to disk and (after calibration) perform measurements on the photos. I want to make the software (with source code!) available to your users.'  It is freeware and available from her website. With thanks to the author for drawing it to our notice. Reading (UK) Convention: This popular annual meeting for microscopy enthusiasts will take place on March 10th. Please click links for programme and registration. Details kindly supplied by Kit Brownlee.

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.