juvenile Patiria miniata, or “bat star” starfish
Laurent Formery
These stunning photographs showcase the awe-inspiring views that can be captured through a microscope. They are two of the winners of the Global Image of the Year Scientific Light Microscopy Award 2022, organized by microscope manufacturer Evident.
Laurent Formery, a researcher at Stanford University in California, won the top prize for his image of the nervous system of a juvenile Patiria miniata, also known as a “bat star” starfish (pictured above). The network of fine fibrils in the starfish’s nerves gives it an otherworldly appearance. Formery achieved this effect by treating the 1-centimetre specimen with an antibody and then artificially coloring the resulting image.
Formery’s research focuses on marine invertebrates, particularly echinoderms like starfish and sea urchins. He stated, “We know little about how these animals shape their fivefold body, which is the topic of my research. I’m happy that capturing images of them helps convey the beauty of our oceans and underscores the importance of learning more about them and protecting them.”
Germinating pollen grain of a morning glory attached to the stigma.
Igor Siwanowicz
The winning entry for the Americas, captured by Igor Siwanowicz, depicts a germinating pollen grain of a morning glory flower attached to a stigma. The stigma, part of the plant’s reproductive system, fills the lower part of the image and is covered in projections that assist in trapping the pollen.
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