MICSCAPE
(ISSN 1365 - 070x)

Exploring the miniature world

Issue 144: October 2007.
Next update November 13th. 

 

Image left: the projected image from a homemade single lens of a very fine metal grid; used for accurately calculating the lens magnification. Image by John Davis.

 


Microscopy-UK welcomes you to 
Micscape Magazine

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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.

 

Issue 144 - October 2007 : Articles this month


 
 The above feature searches the Mic-UK site for a keyword, courtesy of Google's indexing.


 
 

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

Micscape submission guidelines. 

Microscopy-UK
parent site coordinator:
Maurice Smith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

    Measuring the magnification of homemade simple microscope lenses - John Davis (USA) describes a simple but accurate measuring method which formed part of his trials at making lenses to defined magnifications; attaining excellent agreement between theory and practice.

    Caprice in C: Vitamin C revisited - Richard Howey (USA) presents an essay on this very versatile chemical illustrated with striking images. Written to celebrate his 100th article for Micscape. Editor's note: Many thanks to Richard for sharing his skills, enthusiasm and humour in his wonderful range of articles.

    A close-up view of eucalyptus tree flowers - Brian Johnston (Canada) takes a macro and microscopic tour of this attractive tree.

    Neophyte explores miocene - Charles Suslavage (USA) shares his enthusiasm and experiences of studying microfossils.

    F-V Raspail, the most revolutionary of all microscopists - Manuel del Cerro (USA) and Lazaros Triarhou (Greece) present a fascinating illustrated overview of 'a man universally recognised as The Father of Histochemistry'.

    Eyes on the X-Loupe - Mark Spear (USA) shares his experiences of using this very versatile macro adapter for a consumer digicam.

    Some thoughts on microscope maintenance and repair - Robert Pavlis (USA) shares practical advice and tips for servicing the type of microscopes a hobbyist may own.

    An early Victorian microscope by Joseph Casartelli, Manchester - Ian Walker (UK) describes a magnificent microscope from a lesser known maker but with qualities comparable to the best makers of the period, and enjoys using the microscope as his sole microscope rather than just for display.

    Substage polar control lighting unit - Paul James (UK) decribes an ingenious but simple method for changing between lighting techniques such as COL and phase without disturbing the condenser when viewing e.g. sensitive aquatic organisms.

    A compilation of LOMO microscope resources on Micscape - David Walker (UK) compiles the range of Micscape resources on the LOMO compounds and stereos into a central resource. Links to contributions from Rudolf Baumueller, Ted Clarke, Chuck Huck, Les May, Robert Pavlis, Bill Resch, Frithjof Sterrenburg, Ian Walker, David Walker, René van Wezel.
     

    Next month's special feature: Rochester Institute of Technology, New York; articles by photomacrography course students. Micscape are again delighted to host articles by this year's course students; an article on each student's project forms part of their course assignment as kindly organised and offered by Michael Peres, the course director (and in past years by Ted Kinsman).
     

    In Focus:

    Nikon Small World 2007 - a gallery of the striking winning images in this year's competition is now online. Congratulations to the winners which include a third place for Wim van Egmond, a regular contributor to Micscape.

    Rotifer's sex life (or lack of it) hits the BBC News Headlines 'Eighty million years without sex' - Great to see that it's not just celebrities sex lives that hit the headlines; arguably much more interesting are the lives of bdelloid rotifers.

    Microscopy-UK image competitions: Occasional image competitions are being tried to encourage contributions by site visitors of any skill level. The first competition is sponsored by Maurice Smith, the site founder, with a prize of £40 in Amazon gift vouchers. Maurice remarks: 'To win, your image needs to be something photographed either through a microscope or by using close-up macro on your digital camera. It needs to show something from our world at the small scale most likely to interest ordinary people who may never use a microscope, or would not normally be interested in the world of microscopy. Your image will be judged less on quality and more about the subject matter.' Follow the 'Prizes' link on top menu for details. Sponsors of further competitions are welcomed.

    Microscopy-UK Image Gallery: There has been a steady growth in the folk contributing images to the Microscopy-UK Gallery area, a recent new feature set up by Maurice Smith. There's a fascinating variety of images being shared and the subjects include pond life, forensic science images, such as paint cross sections and plants - both macro and micro. Many thanks to the supporters of the Gallery and we welcome further contributions.
    Follow the 'Gallery' link in top menu to visit the Gallery and for details on how to contribute. Some contributors welcome help on the identification of some organisms.
    A selection will be highlighted on Micscape indexes and the first selection are shown resized below (in alphabetical order of contributors' gallery names). Contributors can be contacted by email via their Galleries.


    Rotifer Brachionus quadridentatus. Image by Alberto Magliocolla (Italy). He also shares some fascinating video clips including rotifers.


    'Commelina flower and leaf stomata'. Image by Anne Bruce (Scotland), who shares a variety of images especially of botanical specimens.


    'Found in Italian mountain pond'. Image by P. Clori (Italy). (Ed's note: possibly a nauplius larvae of a copepod.)


    'Unknown' protozoan by Pedro Crespo (Spain). Crespo shares a variety of images of aquatic organisms.

     

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.

Micscape 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) New Feature Nov. 06
Micscape magazine downloadable issues - download a zip file of current or past issues for an offline resource. New feature Dec. 06
Article Library  (browse articles by category)
Automated Search  (keyword search: by subject, author, or list articles in a past issue)
Contributor index  (a list of all Micscape contributors to date)
News - special notices - misc.   
    Send us your news and meeting notices of interest to optical microscopy enthusiasts and we will be pleased to share them.
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.photomacrography2.net forums, galleries, articles on macroscopy and photomicrography.

Newsgroups
sci.techniques.microscopy

Yahoo groups: a 'P' denotes current and archived messages are public i.e. not limited to members.
'Microscope' P (>1500 members, very active)
'Microscopes'
'Microscopehobby'  P (started Apr 2005)
'RealMicroscopy'  P
(started Sep 2005)
'
Microscopio' 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. wide range of articles and resources in German.

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, 'The Amateur Diatomist' paper magazine
Mikroskop Museum German website with resources on microscopes / makers.

Molecular Expressions awesome optical microscopy resources
Dennis Kunkel's SEM images stunning images
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
www.viewsfromscience.com projects e.g. chilled stage for crystal growth studies and LED fluorescence
www.amateurmicrography.net  articles and other resources

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

Microscopy-UK and Micscape - established 1995
  Micscape is a free magazine for enthusiasts funded by Microscopy-UK and dedicated to non-commercial microscopy.
© Onview.net Ltd, Microscopy-UK, and all contributors 1995 onwards. All rights reserved. Main site is at www.microscopy-uk.org.uk with full mirror at www.microscopy-uk.net.