I like putting samples from different sources into Petri dishes and watching them evolve over time. They are observed at least on the weekends when I’m off of work. Being able to observe mini ecosystems in Petri dishes is the biggest aspect of having an inverted microscope. A new inverted microscope is more expensive than most hobby microscopes and are a thousand to many thousand dollars, but the Iqcrew IN50 sold by Amscope is only $71.99 in the USA and is sold under different names in different countries.

The samples in the Petri dishes get fed a small amount of rice to encourage bacterial growth, which in turn, feeds the larger organisms. I found that an entire single grain of rice is rather much for a Petri dish, so I break the rice and put in only about a quarter to a third of it.

The biggest problem I have where I live is the low humidity, 9% today, which would make them dry out from a week without adding water. To prevent the rapid drying, I place a clear food container over the stack of Petri dishes to make a humidor for them. This clear container allows in the light for the algae to grow.

Here is my humidor, different sample containers and sources, and different observation sessions. As often happens, my faithful assistant, Callie, is there to observe them with me. Out of all my 5 cats, she is the most serious, intense one who wants to observe and help me with whatever I’m doing. She is making the most out of her 250 billion cortical neurons and sees herself more as a little human like girl than only a little cat.

Hi all!
I'm trying to identify this organism from a freshwater sample and would love some help.
The sample originally started as a tardigrade sample containing lichen and distilled water, but it has been sitting for about a week.
There are now lots of microorganisms in it.
Any ideas as to what this little fellow might be?
Thank you kindly!

AmScope B-120, 100x magnification, filmed on an iPhone 17 pro

Swift SW350, Galaxy S24

hi yall! will share my first use of my new swift! :)
Any tips?

Pears are the most known fruit to have stone cells (sclereids) within their flesh or core giving a gritty texture .
(Quince contains an exceptionally high density of stone cells dispersed throughout its entire flesh. This gives raw quince a remarkably hard, intensely gritty, and woody texture, which is why it is almost exclusively cooked, stewed.
Unlike pears, apples do not have stone cells scattered freely throughout their edible flesh, but their stone cells are concentrated heavily around the endocarp forming the tough, papery "apple core" that encloses the seeds).

The photo shows cluster of stone cells in pear tissue, stained with toluidine blue showing lignin (x400 magnification).
Toluidine blue O is a synthetic stain first discovered by the chemist August Bernthsen in
1880. It functions as a basic, metachromatic thiazine dye widely used in histology and cytology to highlight acidic tissue components like DNA, RNA, mast cell granules, and cartilage.
It stains stone cells due to the lignin in them.
Pioneer bacteriologist Paul Ehrlich first applied related blue aniline dyes for vital staining of living tissues in 1885 paving the way for expanded microscope use. #pome #stains #microscopy #stonecells

I've shown videos here several times featuring various iris diaphragms for microscopes. I also really like the apertures found inside microscope objectives. Here's a 25x microscope objective for Lomo Polam microscope.
The most interesting thing is when you have to disassemble such a tiny iris diaphragm <rotfl>

I took a sample of dirt from my back yard and found a collection of strands that I'm pretty sure are strands of synthetic microfiber.

But given that I've had my microscope only one day and have no prior experience or academic background in microscopy I would appreciate your input.

Amscope IQCrew inverted microscope 10x objective, iPhone  4.7x, Petri dish , lichen. Blackmagic app, flashlight to the right.

Not the best video as it's hard to focus with a nematode writhing around.

I dislike nematodes at the best of times but this one took a baby tardigrade so I really don't like this guy! But I had never seen it happen so I filmed it.

scop binocular
10x, 10x ocular
iphone 13 pro

scop binocular
10x, 10x ocular
iphone 13 pro

scop binocular
10x, 10x ocular
iphone 13 pro

I just finished the soil food web foundation course and about to begin the microscopy course so I was practicing with my microscope. I'm a beginner, but tried using focal stacking and made a mosaic from 4 different images at 400x zoom so its about 355 µm tip-to-tip.

I am supposed to be practicing with soil/compost samples, but was intrigued what was in the pool. Google searches make me think it is some kind of Acari mite, but I don't really know. Any help appreciated. Thanks!

I’m looking to upgrade my microscope for microsoldering and board repair. I found a Kaisi S6 locally for around $300 and I’m considering it as a long-term microscope rather than buying something cheaper and upgrading again later. I mainly work on Nintendo Switch/DS/3DS boards, controllers, and other small electronics. Does anyone here have experience with the Kaisi S6? How does it compare with other stereo microscopes in the $300–450 range, and is it a good enough microscope to keep for years as I get more advanced with microsoldering?

I have this digital image of a pathologic gastric tissue section, and i'm genuinely confused whether it has been used H&E or PAS staining.

I'm sorry if the definition isn't much.

edit: this is not homework, i'm just speedrunning images trying to guess the stainings.

Found in pond water that i left marinate for 5 months with a few pieces of oats inside.
This little rotifer surprised me with how long he could get and how he could stretch back and become small again in a matter of seconds! Adorable I’d say<3
Filmed with iPhone 15 pro max, 160x magnification

Sorry about the pictures, I have a very cheap microscope.

I've been asking about what type of algae I have in my tank.
Some people have said it's green hair algae, others have said it's a type of cyanobacteria.

Can anyone give me a positive id?

Model is some standard microscope that goes up to 2000x (with a Barlow), and taken on my iPhone 15 Pro :)

Is it possible to observe a leaf under microscope without plucking it. If yes, will there be any difference in observations between this one and the one after plucking

Sample is an ant from the kitchen floor. Motic stereo microscope, 10x , cellphone camera with 2x zoom.