It's a small world: Fascinating images of life under the microscope

By Claire Bates
Last updated at 1:13 PM on 10th October 2008

It looks like a tiny, blue, bug-eyed alien - its miniature spine visible through translucent skin. But this fascinating image is actually a close-up of a chicken embryo and finalist in a 'small world' photography competition.

It is just one of 115 incredible images that use microscopes and digital imaging software to capture views of nature which are invisible to the naked eye.

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Blue wonder: This extraordinary image of a chicken embryo was taken at Lisbon University, Portugal

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Other worldly: No, not a Martian landscape but a close-up of the anti-cancer drug Mitomycin

Moth wings that look like colourful bricks, soap that looks like a surreal Dali painting and a canyon landscape that is actually an anti-cancer drug are just some of the entries submitted from around the world.

They are all finalists in Nikon's Small World competition, which for 34 years has celebrated this technique known as photomicrography.

Images are taken through microscopes, which magnify an image by at least 20 times using ordinary light, ultraviolet, infrared, electrons or X-rays.

Materials are often dyed so that their structure can be seen more clearly.

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This surreal looking image shows the micro-flow pattern in a thinning soap film

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Golden wonder: Using fibre optics, this image shows the wing scales of a sunset moth

'Small World is regarded as the leading forum for showcasing the beauty and complexity of life as seen through the light microscope,' a spokesman said.

'For over 30 years, Nikon has rewarded the world's best photomicrographers who make critically important scientific contributions to life sciences, bio-research and materials science.'

The winners will be announced on October 15, although the public can vote for their favourite at www.nikonsmallworld.com

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