MICSCAPE - Exploring the miniature world

Issue 349: April 2025 (ISSN 1365 - 070x)      Monthly, next issue May 13th 2025.

 

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Microscopical exploration 43. Fertilisers in focus - James Stewart (UK) explores some products used in the garden. PDF

Brightfield microscopy - Gregor Overney (USA) presents 'A short introduction' to the principles and application. PDF

Microscopy highlights: February and March! - Shrean Rafiq (Bangladesh) explores a variety of subjects under the microscope and reflects on their colours and forms. PDF

A macro tour of two vintage pocket watches. Part 1, 1813 Denton & Fox (Hull) with verge escapement  - David Walker (UK)

Micscape Lite - contributors sharing their other interests.

Vintage molecular / atomic / ionic models. A resource on selected major makers with documents - David Walker (UK) begins compiling a resource on vintage kits used before the wide availability of computers for modeling. PDF

From the Archives, April 2015 issue, ten years ago.

Photomicrography and art. Article and pictures - Stefano Barone (Italy). We welcome a new contributor this month. Stefano discusses the interface between science and art in photomicroscopy, illustrated with striking images taken using his Zeiss Axio Imager microscopes.

A different perspective on the art of seeing - Dale Jeffrey (Canada). We welcome a new contributor this month. Dale presents an essay that discusses the merits of slowing down the pace of our busy lives to better appreciate nature at all its scales.

Optical staining, part 1 - Alejandro Arriel Garcia Arriaga (Mexico). Alejandro illustrates how post image capture software techniques can be used to enhance subjects. Multi formats available.
Unusual Norman mounts - (the sadly late in 2025) Peter Paisley (Australia). Link left is to DOCX format. Alternative converted to DOC format. View in Web Layout. Peter proposes an explanation for the unusual monograms on J T Norman type labels and the likely true mounter.

Panoramic stitching in photomicrography - Michael Reese Much (USA). Mike illustrates the capabilities of the powerful freeware Microsoft Image Composite Editor (ICE). Multi formats available.
Winter is for microscopy - Anthony Thomas (Canada). With insects being scarce, Anthony shares some of his other microscopical studies of aquatic habitats during the winter months. Multi formats available.

DIY fluorescence effect, part 1 - Alejandro Arriel Garcia Arriaga (Mexico). Alejandro shows how colour transposition techniques within image software can produce post image capture fluorescence type effects. Multi formats available.
It's a bird, it's a worm, no, it's Chirodota - (the sadly late in 2025) Richard Howey (USA). The sea cucumber looks rather unappealing to study on the macro scale, but Richard illustrates that it is a fascinating subject on the microscopic scale.
Can there be an ethic for the Internet: A brief rant - (the sadly late in 2025) Richard Howey (USA). Richard comments on the unaccredited use of his work and commonly by academics.

Examples of photo-stitching and focus stacking - Mol Smith (UK). Mol shares examples of his own image stitching and techniques.

Some fly macros - Anthony Thomas (Canada). Anthony shares some of his stunning stacked imagery of insects. Multi formats available.

Victorian microscopy ca. 1860 - a hands-on comparison of microscopy techniques then and now. Part 1 - Qualitative polarised light microscopy - David Walker (UK). An article in an occasional new series which illustrates how an 1860's Ross No.2 microscope compares with a modern research microscope.
Less well known microscopists: An occasional series. A short introductory note is offered with a selection of primary and secondary sources.

Dr. Henry Power (c.1626 - 1668) - author of the first book published in English on microscopy in 1663 - compiled by David Walker (UK). Power's 'Experimental Philosophy in Three Books' predates Hooke's more famous 'Micrographia' by up to two years. Power lived and worked two miles from David's home at the still standing splendid 'New Hall', Elland.


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.
Best Ants UK - a shop offering live ants with 'Starter Kits' for building various and studying ant colonies.
Mikro-Foto - Frank Fox's striking macro and micro imagery.


 

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 parent site coordinator:
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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