MICSCAPE
(ISSN 1365 - 070x)

Exploring the miniature world

Issue 194: December 2011.
Next update January 13th.

Image left by Dustin Brown: Xylitol crystals under crossed polar filters.

 

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About Micscape

Issue 194 - December 2011 : Articles this month

Micscape Contacts
Micscape Editor:
David Walker
Comments on Micscape and
contributions welcomed.

Micscape submission guidelines .

Microscopy-UK
parent site coordinator:
Maurice Smith

Crystal growth videos: Polarized light microscopy - Dustin Brown (USA) shares striking videos of crystallisation accompanied by the ambient music track 'Microscopic' by the group 'Gas'.

Super lo-tech LED illumination for your microscope - Martin Yarwood (UK) shares an easy lighting conversion using a commercial LED array from a torch.

Caprellids (skeleton shrimps) - Jean-Marie Cavanihac (France) describes and illustrates aspects of these fascinating marine organisms. (In Acrobat pdf format.)

A close-up view of a lady's slipper orchid hybrid - Brian Johnston (Canada) illustrates the macro and micro features of this striking plant.

How to make Rheinberg filters - Mike Shaw (USA) presents an illustrated introduction to preparing filters to explore Rheinberg illumination.

Euplectella aspergillum: Part II. Some reflections on sponges, colonies, and individuals - Richard Howey (USA) continues his three part series on aspects of this fascinating organism.
  In pursuit of constant illumination in brightfield. A simple tale of cause and effect - Paul James (UK) experiments with a crossed polar system coupled to the condenser iris.

A gallery of festive images - Richard Howey (USA) shares a selection of attractive images for each month of this past year.

Aquatics under polarisation - Anthony Thomas (Canada) illustrates the use of polar filters for aquatic organisms. (In Acrobat® pdf format.)

William Barwell Turner, the later years - Peter Paisley (Australia) continues his in-depth study of the fascinating life and work of this mounter who had a working background in the brewing industry. (In doc file format.)

An amazing new Canadian $100 bill - Fritz Schulze (Canada) explores the origin of the modern microscope depicted on this new banknote. (In Acrobat pdf format.)

 

The mounting of mites (Acari) in modified Dioni’s mountant - Andy Chick (UK) shares a protocol that he has found suitable for these arthropods.

Moths under magnification - Anthony Thomas (Canada) shares an illustrated article exploring moths on the macro and micro scale. (In Acrobat pdf format.)

Leitz black enamel microscope "for the medical profession" - Ian Walker (UK) describes and illustrates a late 1940s / early 50s compact but well engineered microscope which sell for modest prices.

The stereo microscope: 3D imaging. Part I: Introduction and background - R Jordan Kreindler (USA) starts a new series on this topic, beginning with an historical overview and basic concepts. (In Acrobat pdf format.) Updated Dec. 22nd; information added on the Zeiss Citoplast which is the earliest CMO stereo by some years rather than the AO Cycloptic.

The diatomist John Albert Long (1863 - 1945): Notes on aspects of his life and work with examples of his prepared slides - David Walker (UK) shares an article on this noted diatomist and who lived local to the author.

 

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 .
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. 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.amateurmicrography.net forums, galleries, articles on macroscopy and photomicrography.

www.quekett.net/forum/index.php forum for both Quekett Microscopical Club members and other enthusiasts.

Newsgroups
sci.techniques.microscopy (spoilt by excessive spam nowadays)

Yahoo groups: a ' P' denotes current and archived messages are public i.e. not limited to members.
'Amateur Microscopy' P (started November2008)
'Yahoo Diatom Forum' P
' Microscope 'P (>1500 members, very active)
' Microscopes '
'Microscopehobby' P (started Apr 2005)
'RealMicroscopy' P (started Sep 2005)
' Óptica Roma foro Microscopía' for Spanish speakers
' Wild M20 microscope '
' Nikon Coolpix photomicro and macrophoto '
' microcosmo ' ( for Italian speaking enthusiasts)
' CombineZ ' P stacking software forum created by the software's author

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

Other sites
Beyond Magazine science, microscopy for youngsters
Clubs / Socs (Pro/Am) Mic-UK links page
Light Microscopy Forum links and articles
Little Imp Publications public domain books on CD. (Hosted by Savona Books).
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 a free monthly microscopy enthusiast magazine edited by Oliver Kim
Microscopies online magazine and Forum for French speakers
Micrographia articles, projects for the enthusiast
Microscopy Today paper journal with online archive
Modern Microscopy online journal by McCrone Group
Fun Science Gallery projects, articles on optics
G. Couger's microscopy links extensive links
Society for Amateur Scientists resources and support
A Cabinet of Curiosities a resource on Victorian microscope slides by Howard Lynk
www.viewsfromscience.com projects e.g. chilled stage for crystal growth studies and LED fluorescence
'Diatoms Ireland' resource by Leszek Wolnik
Historical makers of microscopes and microscope slides Brian Stevenson's extensive resource on Victorian slide makers

Web rings
Lightscapes polarised light macroscopy/microscopy, both artistic and scientific.

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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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