Microcosmos is an unabashed celebration of the beauty of microscopic structures. Arranged in six chapters (microorganisms, botanics, human body, zoology, minerals, and technology), each page presents a half-page color microscopic image with a short descriptive paragraph and magnification. A short foreword describing SEM technology precedes the photographs. The majority of the pictures are false-color scanning electron micrographs, with a few TEM and light microscope images found throughout. Specimens range widely, including phytoplankton, lichen, plant xylem, pollen, HeLa cells, bone, kidney stone crystals, nerve cells, spider eyes, gecko foot hairs, vitamin C crystals, wound dressing, filter paper, nylon, toilet paper, microchips, snowflakes…and many others. Most of the images are appealing to downright gorgeous, such as colorful bacteria like a scattering of confetti across the tongue, the lovely Fibonacci sequence of cauliflower heads, and a stunning just-opening bud of a daisy flower. Images are occasionally disconcerting (cancer cells, mating flukes, or mite...

You do not currently have access to this content.