A freshwater polyp eats its prey. Mosquito larvae hatch from their eggs. A tardigrade explores its surroundings.
These stunning videos are among the honored films of the Nikon Small Word in Motion Awards. The award has been presented for films that record microscopic observations for the past twelve years. They show us what our everyday life could look like if we had the opportunity to observe the smallest processes in our environment.
The video by biologist Dylan T. Burnette from Vanderbuilt University in Nashville, USA, shows dying melanoma cells – these are cancer cells. With these pictures he came fourth in the competition.
This film is by Ahmet Karabulut, a molecular biologist at Gibson Lab in Kansas City, USA. This is where the neurons and stinging cells of a sea anemone communicate with each other. The video took 3rd place.
French neuroscientist Christophe Leterrier was awarded second place. His video shows the time-lapse of a 12-hour recording of cultured monkey cells. The DNA is blue and the cell membrane is orange.
And here is the winning video: It shows in an impressive way what is possible in research today. Here the cell processes within the embryo of a zebrafish become visible. Argentine researcher Eduardo Zattara used fluorescence to mark the different cells.
“In my research, I am particularly interested in how the ability to develop produces evolutionary paths and ecological results. Although I like to include all dimensions of life, I mainly focus on organisms to understand biological systems,” says the award winner.
The excellent videos show how microrecordings are made in research today. These are spectacular shots that illustrate the cinematic craft and the curiosity of researchers for their work.