Group

Light Beyond the Bulb

Volvox


an optical microscope

Image Credit: Frank Fox, www.mikro-foto.de

An optical microscope (also called a "light microscope") uses visible light and a system of lenses to magnify images of very small samples. In this image from an optical microscope, a special technique known as "differential interference contrast" that uses differences in the amount of bending of light by components of the specimen to enhance otherwise undetectable features of these volvox. Volvox are small, colonial green algae that make up a larger spherical colony. The bright green sphere within the colony is a daughter colony, a secondary colony growing on the surface of an older one.

Listen to audio version (English)

Download high-res image file | Download caption as .zip file