This is part of longitudinal section of hen’s tongue

This image of part of a longitudinal section of a hen’s tongue was taken from a Victorian microscope slide using a polarising microscope.

Winner of best biological light micrograph and overall best light micrograph in the 2008 Royal Microscopical Society International Micrograph Competition.

Dr Steve Lowry

This is part of longitudinal section of a human tooth.

The rainbow-coloured section of this healthy tooth was taken from a Victorian microscope slide using polarised light.  It shows the soft pulp surrounded by the V-shaped layer containing dentine microfibres in a matrix of collagen. The dark line cutting off the top left-hand corner of the image is the hardest tissue in the human body – enamel.

Short listed entry in Close-up section of 2007 Visions of Science & Technology

Dr Steve Lowry

These are idioblasts on the stem of a water lily

This photograph shows idioblasts on a water lily stem.  Idioblasts are made from calcium oxalate crystals and may function to store excess calcium that would otherwise be toxic to the plant.  It has also been suggested that the crystals act as deterrents to herbivores and that they act as lenses to focus light on chloroplasts.  This photograph was produced from a slide by Abraham Flatters. 

Runner-up, Society of Biology Photographer of the Year 2011

Dr Steve Lowry