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Crystallized sugar syrup, venomous fangs of a tarantula, and auto-fluorescing leaf hairs are among the top 20 images chosen for their science and artistry in Nikon’s Small World Photo Microscopy Competition this year.
The 49th edition of the contest awarded its top prize to researcher Hassanain Qambari and Jayden Dickson for their image of a rodent’s optic nerve head in a web of vivid colors. They were studying diabetic retinopathy, an eye condition that can lead to vision loss in people with diabetes.
Qambari, who has been researching early detection and reversal of diabetic retinopathy since 2021, stated that the competition allows individuals to showcase the beauty and artistic side of science that often goes unnoticed.
“Such a competition not only celebrates the participant’s hard work and passion but may also draw and inspire young scientists to pursue a career in STEM. It certainly inspired me,” he said in a press release on Tuesday.
Eric Flem, senior manager of CRM and communications at Nikon Instruments, expressed his consistent awe at how scientific imaging technology advancements enable the creation of art from science for the public to enjoy.
Nearly 1,900 entries from 72 countries were received for this year’s competition, according to the organizers.
Ole Bielfeldt secured second place with his image capturing a matchstick igniting through friction against the surface of a box. In third place was Malgorzata Lisowska, whose picture exhibited pink hues of breast cancer cells.
Take a look at a gallery above showcasing a selection of the top images chosen by the organizers.
