From seeds to slime molds to spider eyes, the foremost entries in Nikon’s Small World 2024 Photomicrography Competition (previously) illuminate details invisible to the naked eye. This year, jurors sifted through more than 2,000 entries from 80 countries.
First place was awarded to Dr. Bruno Cisterna and Dr. Eric Vitriol of the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, who detailed the delicate and oddly beautiful tendrils and crystal-like edges of the cells comprising a mouse’s brain tumor.
Dr. Bruno Cisterna and Dr. Eric Vitriol, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia. Differentiated mouse brain tumor cells (actin, microtubules, and nuclei)
2024 marks Nikon’s 50th annual Small World showcase—which also launched the Small World in Motion contest in 2011—highlighting the art and proficiency required to capture minuscule phenomena.
In addition to revealing incredible, almost magical portrayals of organisms and objects, the images illustrate the essential role photomicrography plays in furthering our understanding of health, nature, and ourselves.
Amateur enthusiasts and scientists alike share astonishing views of their research, including the magnified, toy-like shapes of common beach sand, a cross section of grass, and a speckled cluster of octopus eggs.
Peruse all of the top entries in the contest’s online gallery, and keep an eye out for the calendar featuring this year’s winners. Follow updates on Instagram.
Alison Pollack, San Anselmo, California. Seed of a Silene plant
Paweł Błachowicz, Bedlno, Świętokrzyskie, Poland. Eyes of green crab spider (Diaea dorsata)
Henri Koskinen, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Uudenmaan lääni, Finland. Slime mold (Cribraria cancellata)
Zhang Chao, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. Beach sand
Gerhard Vlcek, Maria Enzersdorf, Austria. Cross section of European beach grass (Ammophila arenaria) leaf
Thomas Barlow and Connor Gibbons, Columbia University, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, New York. Cluster of octopus (Octopus hummelincki) eggs
Chris Romaine, Kandid Kush, Port Townsend, Washington. Leaf of a cannabis plant
Dr. Robert Markus, University of Nottingham, School of Life Sciences, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, U.K. Dandelion (Traxacum officinale) cross section showing curved stigma with pollen
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