The Winners of Nikon’s ‘Small World’ Contest Reveal Tiny Technicolor Worlds

Nikon has unveiled the winners of the 2020 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competitors: our annual alternative to witness probably the most lovely photographs that straddle the intersection of beautiful pictures and groundbreaking science.

High prize this yr went to Daniel Castranova, assisted by Bakary Samasa, who have been working in Dr. Brant Weinstein’s lab on the Nationwide Institutes of Well being. Castranova captured what’s described as an “artfully rendered and technically immaculate picture” of a younger zebrafish with a fluorescent tags for the skeleton, scales, and lymphatic system.

The picture was created by stacking and stitching over 350 particular person photographs that have been captured with a spinning disc confocal microscope, and it really represents a scientific discovery. The picture reveals lymphatic vessels within the fish’s cranium—a characteristic that was beforehand thought to happen solely in mammals.

In fact, you don’t need to know any of that to see that it’s additionally attractive:

Photograph by Daniel Castranova, Dr. Brant Weinstein & Bakary Samasa | Nikon Small World

“For 46 years, the aim of the Nikon Small World competitors has been to share microscopic imagery that visually blends artwork and science for most of the people,” stated Nikon Devices Communications Supervisor Eric Flem. “As imaging methods and applied sciences turn into extra superior, we’re proud to showcase imagery that this mix of analysis, creativity, imaging expertise and experience can deliver to scientific discovery. This yr’s first place winner is a surprising instance.”

Second place went to Daniel Knop for a picture of the embryonic improvement of a clownfish.

This 5 picture side-by-side composite was created by lining up stacked images that have been taken on days 1, 3 (morning and night), 5, and 9 of the fish embryo’s improvement—a powerful achievement provided that his topic was alive, and refused to sit down nonetheless regardless of how properly Knop requested.

Photograph by Daniel Knop | Nikon Small World

Third place was awarded to Dr. Igor Siwanowicz, who has really positioned within the Nikon Small World competitors 17 instances, together with 1st place in 2011 and 2nd place in 2019. His picture of the tongue of a freshwater snail is one other technicolor marvel made attainable by confocal microscopy:

Photograph by Dr. Igor Siwanowicz | Nikon Small World

Nikon acknowledged a complete of 88 photographs this yr—break up right into a High 20, honorable mentions, and pictures of distinction. Scroll all the way down to see the remaining photographs that made it into this yr’s prime 20, after which head over to the Nikon Small World competitors web site to discover the entire batch.