Diapositiva 1

Mandibles of a water spider, cleared and mounted in Canada balsam.

These incredible microscopic images of creatures, vitamins, crystals and even a fetus are to be recognised with an award from the Royal Photographic Society.They are taken by Spike Walker, from Retford, who has been taking microscopic images for 70 years.RPS (Royal Photographic Society )Scientific Imaging Award 2016

Cell division in a Desmid,Micrasterias apiculata(a type of one-celled freshwater alga).

Seed head ofCentanthus ruber (Red Valerian).

While this might look a bit like Turkish Delight, it is really the plantar skin of a gosling's toe, with the epidermis layer partly removed to show the capillary bed.

Crystals of paracetamol from alcoholic solution.

Coarse sea salt and peppercorns.

While this picture might look like a field of sunflowers, it really shows coltsfoot rust fungus and cluster cups on the underside of a leaf.

Sucrose crystals growing in gelatine solution.

Soldered connections on a computer memory stick.

This picture looks like it has been created by a graphic designer, it really shows ephedrine vapour - a medication used to prevent low blood pressure - crystallising as it cools.

A single sperm is taken up in a micropipette and inserted into a prepared egg cell which is held in position by suction within a second micropipette.

This picture shows a group of one-celled freshwater algae.

Diatom,Triceratium sp: angled variety of a 3-angled species.

This stunning image shows cornflower seeds

This image shows a living human egg cell with several sperm surrounding it, after a failed attempt at IVF treatment.

Mouse foetus, sagittal longitudinal section.

Mymar pulchellus: a fairy fly a minute parasitic wasp.

Oxidised L.Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), crystallised from aqueous solution.

This picture shows the stained cross section of the composite structure of a dandelion flower, showing individual flor.

blue and orange picture of a male dytiscus beetle using its suckers to grip the female during mating.

The calcareous test (shell) of a mounted specimen of a tropical marine foram or hole bearers. They belong to the phylum Foraminifera. The above specimen is from the China Sea.

A cross section of the lining of the wall of an artery is pictured on the right, with red blood cells are pictured beside it on the left

This might look like a colourful textile, but the picture really shows ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) crystals from an aqueous solution.

The delicate basket-like arrangement of sensory nerve fibres around the base of a hair follicle as seen in a thick verticle section of cat skin.

Bacteria and the ciliate protozoa which feed on them, are pictured in water from a flower vase.

One of the pictures shows the cells of a sphagnum moss leaf.

These curious creatures are living Spionid larvae from marine plankton -generally the most common developmental stages found in plankton samples.

Brain cells are pictured in a thick silver-stained section of the medulla -a portion of the hindbrain that controls functions such as breathing, digestion, heart and blood vessel function, swallowing and sneezing.

END18-SEPTIEMBRE-2016