MICSCAPE - Exploring the miniature world

Issue 318 : September 2022 (ISSN 1365 - 070x)      Monthly, next issue October 13th 2022.


Caddis fly case.
Image by Jennie Lawrence.

 


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Contributions: Any modern format welcomed i.e. pdf. doc/docx with embedded images, or html + jpegs.

The curious case of the caddis fly - Jennie Lawrence (USA) describes and illustrates these fascinating insect larvae. PDF

Beach combing for algae - Christian Autotte (Canada) explores fauna on a seashore. PDF

An alphabetic album of crystals A-M - Richard L. Howey (USA) shares a varied gallery of chemicals.

An alphabetic album of crystals N-Z - Richard L. Howey (USA) shares a varied gallery of chemicals.

Further adventures with a 3D printer – Stereo polarising microscopy! - Steve Cuthbert (UK) shares his project to build an adapter for such studies. PDF

Note on 'diatom dotting' at low magnifications. Resolving Stauroneis phoenicenteron. Part 2 - Resolving pores with a 10X objective - David Walker (UK) tries an increased resolution camera.

From the archives ten years ago. November 2012 issue.

A simple, low cost, conversion of incandescent-lamp illuminator to a power LED - Dushan Grujich (Australia) shares an elegant conversion of the LOMO OI-32 lamp to an LED self-contained lamp for the microscope base. (In Acrobat pdf format.)

Wild M20 microscope - Michael Wilkman (Finland) shares some practical modifications and servicing tips for this classic microscope. (In Acrobat pdf format.)

Some common protozoa: an oxymoron - Richard Howey (USA) describes and illustrates some typical species and comments on the recent taxonomic debate on how best to classify this group.

The DIY seamless condenser (Update Pt 4). Adding subtle iris control for COL - Paul James (UK) discusses improvements to his versatile home made condenser.

A close up view of a Black Eyed Susan cultivar - Brian Johnston (Canada) explores this attractive plant on the macro and microscopic scale.

Ten tantalizers: Microscopes that continue to fascinate - R. Jordan Kreindler (USA) and Manuel del Cerro (USA) present ten microscopes that have a certain appeal; both successful and unsuccessful models. (In Acrobat pdf format.)

Microscope slides of “Larva of Anthomyia Caniculata, from Stomach of Girl. – Microscopical Transaction, 1844” - Brian Stevenson (USA) discusses some intriguing nineteenth century slide preparations. (In Acrobat pdf format.)

Some fascinating survivals - [Ed. the now sadly late] Peter Paisley (Australia) proposes that the preparer of some unascribed slides was Arthur Farre, 'a multi-talented medical and scientific luminary'. Includes a slide possibly used in a murder case. (In doc format.)

James How and Co. operated by George John Smith, 1835 – 1905 ... - Brian Stevenson (USA) discusses this company's and its later owner's products, which included prepared slides.  (In Acrobat pdf format.)

William's Little People- [Ed. the now sadly late] Peter Paisley (Australia) continues his in-depth study of the work of the Norman family of slide preparers. He discusses the entomological work of William Norman. (In doc format.)

Notes on the potential vibration problems observed with two mirrorless digital cameras if used for photomicroscopy (Sony NEX-5N and Panasonic GF2), and the value of an electronic first curtain shutter option - David Walker (UK) explores why two typical mirrorless camera bodies gave more serious vibration problems than a mirrored DSLR body without mirror lock when firmly coupled to a large Zeiss Photomicroscope or for stereo microscope work.

    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!

     

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External links. Updated April 2020. 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.photomacrography.net
forums, galleries, articles on macroscopy and photomicrography.

groups.io (formerly Yahoo groups):
Amateur Microscopy
Diatom Forum
Microscopy as a hobby or profession
Wild Microscopes

Facebook groups:
Amateur Microscopy (>21000 members, very active). Also specialist groups e.g. for users of given maker's microscopes (e.g. Zeiss, Olympus, Wild, Vickers). Also try a Facebook Group search with keywords like microscope or microscopy to find these.

Other:
Microbe hunter the website ably run by Oliver Kim has built up a popular and valuable forum with help for both the beginner and more advanced user.

Listservers:
Algae-L
'Forum for marine, freshwater and terrestrial algae'. Access to Archives possible for non-subscribers.
Diatom-L 'Research on the diatom algae.' Access to Archives for subscribers only. Link was current March 2016. Many online diatom resources point to an outdated Indiana Univ. listserver. (With thanks to Rob Kimmich for the current link.)

Mikroskopie-Treff.de (Extensive German microscopy forum; some English categories.)
Mikrobiologische Vereinigung München e. V. Wide 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.

The Amateur Diatomist archive This magazine resource ably created and administered by Steve Gill has now been ported to the Microscopy-UK site with Steve's permission as the former host server is now not available.
As well as all the issues in pdf format there are a wealth of other resources in the Downloads section including by noted workers such as Barber and the complete 532 page book 'An Introduction to the Microscopical Study of Diatoms' by Robert B. McLaughlin.

Diatoms of the Arid South West Originally hosted on the website of New Mexico State University, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Services. Archived with permission from Dave Richman, resource editor, and C. Scott Bundy of the NMSU.

Other sites (also see Societies and Clubs page.)
Royal Microscopy Society Journal, 'infocus' and other resources for members and the community.
Quekett Microscopical Club Journal, Bulletin and meetings for members.
Light Microscopy Forum links and articles
Little Imp Publications public domain books collated by Steve Gill formerly on CD and now free on Micscape.
Mikroskop Museum German website with resources on microscopes / makers .
Molecular Expressions awesome optical microscopy resources
Dennis Kunkel's SEM images stunning images
Diatoms Ireland - resource site by Leszek Wolnik
Leitz museum an illustrated resource compiled by Robert Allen
Microbe hunter microscopy enthusiast website, forum and magazine edited by Oliver Kim
Microscopies online magazine and Forum for French speakers
Micrographia articles, projects for the enthusiast
Microscopy Today
journal with online archive
Modern Microscopy
online journal by McCrone Group
Fun Science Gallery projects, articles on optics in English and Italian.
Independent Generation of Research (IGoR) - Wiki style resource for citizen scientists to share their work.
Lens On Leeuwenhoek - extensive resource online by Douglas Anderson
Collected Letters of Antoni van Leeuwenhoek ('Alle de Brieven ..') transcribed and free online at DBNL.
A Cabinet of Curiosities a resource on Victorian microscope slides by Howard Lynk
'Diatoms Ireland' resource by Leszek Wolnik
Historical makers of microscopes and microscope slides Brian Stevenson's extensive resource .
Victorian slide makers
Cambridge rocking microtome resources including manual
www.willemsmicroscope.com Dutch enthusiast Willem Cramer's website
David Jackson's Better Microscopy blog. Regularly updated free resources extending from his 'Better Microscopy' series of books.
Stefano Barone's Diatom Shop
sale of his own prepared and arranged slides of diatoms, radiolaria, forams and scales.
www.testslides.com website devoted to Stefano Barone's Diatom Lab test slides.
Darwin Biological a UK company for 'biological education' supplies. Including live cultures of protozoa and algae.
Microscopie van de Natuur Dutch microscopy resource site by Rolf Vossen.
 

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Maurice Smith


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