MICSCAPE - Exploring the miniature world

Issue 341: August 2024 (ISSN 1365 - 070x)      Monthly, next issue September 13th 2024.

 

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

Echinodermata larvae - Jean-Marie Cavanihac (France) shares an illustrated essay on the macro and microscopic features of a selection of species. PDF

Microscopical exploration thirty five. Acids in the dark - James Stewart (UK) explores some common food and drink constituents in darkfield.  PDF

Parasites, part 7 - trematode diseases - Ed Ward (USA) continues his extensive illustrated survey. PDF 68 pages.

Roatan 12. A machine lives! - G. Joseph Wilhelm (Honduras) shares his progress on building a home lab on the island of Roatan. PDF

Freshwater testate amoeba. Miniature wonders of nature - David G. Seamer (Australia) describes and illustrates examples of this fascinating microorganism. PDF

Notes on DIC with the Zeiss 6.3X planachromatic objective with 160 mm tube length - David Walker (UK) explores using a not optimal DIC Inko condenser.


Notes on contrast enhancement techniques at near IR and near UV wavelengths. Part 1 - DIC at near infrared wavelengths - David Walker (UK)

Not microscopes - Fritz Schulze shares an illustrated essay on aspects of Zeiss consumer optics. PDF
 

From the Archives. An issue nine years ago in August 2015.


 
Papered, bone and other exotic slides: A bit of history, Part 3 - [the now sadly late] Richard Howey (USA) continues his series where he discusses and illustrates how to make our own papered slides.

Cross-polarization in epi-illumination on the Amscope metallurgical trinocular microscope - Prompted by a reader's query on his review of this microscope last month, Michael Reese Much (USA) assesses this model's capability for epi-polarisation studies. PDF

Systematic observation for beginners - Dale Jeffrey (Canada) discusses the value of visual and drawing studies of subjects in addition to taking photographs.

Photobacterium: An outstanding species of bacterium, but have you ever heard of them? - A species of bacterium Photobacterium phosphoreum formed a key role in an episode of the TV programme 'Bones'. Alejandro Arriel Garcia Arriaga (Mexico) explores the nature of this real bacterium. PDF

Optical staining, part 3. Rheinberg illumination DIY filters - Alejandro Arriel Garcia Arriaga (Mexico) continues his series on optical staining and shows how to try this popular technique. PDF

The Touptek Toupcam microscope camera LCMOS14000KPA - [the now sadly late] Robert Pavlis (USA) reviews the features and performance of the 14 Mpixel colour model in this popular range of cameras. PDF

A note on a technique: Staining glass sponge fibers -  [the now sadly late] Richard Howey (USA) explores whether silica based subjects can be dyed to improve the visibility of their structure.

Exploring the use of a cheap Peltier plate (e.g. TEC1-12706, £2-50) for cooling (or heating) subjects studied under the compound or stereo microscope - David Walker (UK)

The microscopical study of finely ground carbon suspended in uncovered alcohol as first reported by Jan Ingenhousz in 1784 - Presents results of a similar study with videos. Do such simple experiments confirm that his own explanation of the particle motion was correct i.e. caused by evaporation currents and not the widespread modern reinterpretation as Brownian motion to give Ingenhousz priority over Brown? David Walker (UK)

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!

 

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).
Article Library (browse articles by category)
Automated Search (a search engine for keyword searches in all articles)
Contributor index (a list of all Micscape contributors to date)
News - special notices - misc.


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
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. Link to March 2020 mirror on the Internet Archive site. 
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
Historical makers of microscopes and microscope slides Brian Stevenson's extensive resource on Victorian slide makers.
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.
Dotcom-Monitor, LoadView Testing, Web Hosting Buddy, and Find My Electric are tech/science companies that believe in and foster UK Microscopy and STEM education.


 

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Maurice Smith


Microscopy-UK and Micscape - established 1995
Micscape is a free magazine for enthusiasts funded by Microscopy-UK and dedicated to non-commercial microscopy.
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