Nikon’s Small World Photomicrography Competition Reveals the Vastly Unseen — Colossal

Such minuscule details of life may be out of sight, but they’re certainly not out of existence. Back for its 2025 installment, Nikon’s Small World Photomicrography Competition (previously) highlights the complexities of our world beyond the naked eye.

From dozens of algae cells floating in a single droplet water to the inner workings of a dedifferentiated liver cell, this year’s collection of winning images and honorable mentions capture the microscopic diversity of life forms. Flip through the contest’s online gallery for more, and add some science to your feed on Instagram.

Rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae) on a grain of rice
Zhang You, Kunming, Yunnan, China. Rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae) on a grain of rice
Colonial algae (Volvox) spheres in a drop of water.
Dr. Jan Rosenboom, Rostock, Mecklenburg Vorpommern, Germany. Colonial algae (Volvox) spheres in a drop of water
Spore sacs (sporangia) of a fern
Rogelio Moreno, Panama City, Panama. Spore sacs (sporangia) of a fern
Dedifferentiated liver cell
Dr. Francisco Lázaro-Diéguez, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York. Dedifferentiated liver cell
Sunflower trichomes (hair-like plant outgrowths)
Marek Miś, Marek Miś Photography Suwalki, Podlaskie, Poland. Sunflower trichomes (hair-like plant outgrowths)
Spores (blue/purple structures) of a small tropical fern (Ceratopteris richardii)
Dr. Igor Robert Siwanowicz, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, Virginia. Spores (blue/purple structures) of a small tropical fern (Ceratopteris richardii)
Lily flower pollen (autofluorescence)
Dr. Stephen De Lisle, Karlstad University, Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Karlstad, Värmland, Sweden. Lily flower pollen (autofluorescence)
Parasitic fly (Crataerina hirundinis)
Bernard Allard, Club Français de Microscopie Sucy-en-Bry, France. Parasitic fly (Crataerina hirundinis)



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sign Up for Our Newsletters

Get the latest creative news from coc0nut.

You May Also Like
An Animated Guide to Using Art to Get in Touch with Your Emotions — Colossal

An Animated Guide to Using Art to Get in Touch with Your Emotions — Colossal

Say you visit a highly anticipated exhibition one Saturday afternoon and find…
How to market yourself without feeling gross

How to market yourself without feeling gross

Ah, self-promotion. That horrible mix of nerves, awkwardness and mild nausea that…
Glimpse Spectacularly Tiny Worlds in Winning Videos from Nikon’s Small World In Motion Competition — Colossal

Glimpse Spectacularly Tiny Worlds in Winning Videos from Nikon’s Small World In Motion Competition — Colossal

From a remarkable demonstration of flower self-pollination to algae swimming in a…
Meet the Hive Architect, the Carpenter Independently Installing Homes for Honeybees — Colossal

Meet the Hive Architect, the Carpenter Independently Installing Homes for Honeybees — Colossal

“Wherever I go, bees come,” says Matt Somerville. A carpenter by trade,…
Acquavella Signs Harumi Klossowska de Rola, Daughter of Balthus

Acquavella Signs Harumi Klossowska de Rola, Daughter of Balthus

Acquavella Galleries, a gallery known for its blue-chip secondary market dealings, is…
Smithsonian Museums to Remain Open Amid Government Shutdown

Smithsonian Museums to Remain Open Amid Government Shutdown

The embattled Smithsonian Institution, a network of federally funded museums that has…
Lisa Smith named new President of D&AD

Lisa Smith named new President of D&AD

Lisa Smith has been named the new President of D&AD for 2025/2026,…
The Superb Retro Futuristic Album Covers and Illustrations by Arina Kokoreva » Design You Trust — Design Daily Since 2007

The Superb Retro Futuristic Album Covers and Illustrations by Arina Kokoreva » Design You Trust — Design Daily Since 2007

Arina Kokoreva, a multidisciplinary artist from Porto, crafts album covers and illustrations…
The Incredible Otherworldy Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi and Horror Illustrations by Yang Jialun » Design You Trust — Design Daily Since 2007

The Incredible Otherworldy Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi and Horror Illustrations by Yang Jialun » Design You Trust — Design Daily Since 2007

Yang Jialun is an artist from Shanghai, China, known for his highly…
6,500-Year-Old Earthworks in Austria Are Thousands of Years Older than Stonehenge — Colossal

6,500-Year-Old Earthworks in Austria Are Thousands of Years Older than Stonehenge — Colossal

Around 10,000 years ago, a paradigm shift in human history began to…