The Nikon Small World prize has recognised microscope photography at its very best since 1974, rewarding scientist photographers for showing the world its tiniest pieces. Here are our favourites from this year’s competition. Joanna Carver
This iridescent tangle is the blood-brain barrier, which separates blood and brain fluid, in a live zebrafish embryo. Zebrafish can be seen in a household aquarium near you and only grow to about 6 centimetres long, but have similar brain chemistry to humans. It won Jennifer Peters and Michael Taylor of St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, the first prize.
(Image: Jennifer Peters and Michael Taylor/Nikon Small World)
This shot of human bone cancer is eerily beautiful. The blue represents DNA, the yellow mitochondria and the purple actin filaments. The work of Dylan Burnette of the National Institutes of ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû1000¼¯ºÏ in Bethesda, Maryland, it came third in the competition.
(Image: Dylan Burnette/Nikon Small World)
No, this ant isn’t having lunch, it’s carrying its larva. Many ants live in complex societies. This one comes from the genus , which is widespread in the mountains of south-east Asia. The image came ninth and was made by Geir Drange.
(Image: Geir Drange/Nikon Small World)
This might look like the mouth of the Sarlacc in Star Wars but is actually the reproductive part of , a flower found mostly in the Sahara, where its toxic sap is used by hunters. The image was made by José Almodóvar Rivera of the University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez.
(Image: José R. Almodóvar Rivera/Nikon Small World)
It’s hard to believe, but this bushy, glowing object is a section of a ladybug leg. Ladybugs, also known as ladybirds, are readily available to either clear your gardens of aphids or make your wine taste really funny. It was photographed by Andrea Genre of the University of Turin, Italy.
(Image: Andrea Genre/Nikon Small World)
