Zip Disk

Sample: A Zip Disk.
Source: My desk.

Hexagons.

Yeah.



Zip Disk Window, 10x.



Zip Disk Window, 60x.



Zip Disk Window, 200x.

Biting Beetle

Sample: A Japanese Biting Beetle.
Source: The Great Outdoors.

Meet Pure Evil, ladies and gentlemen. It looks like a harmless orange ladybug, but on the inside it is a cold black ball of malice and hate. They appear in droves in the summer. Unlike real ladybugs, they bite. Hard. And if you crush them, they release a foul-smelling goo that is extremely difficult to wash out. This one met a woman I like to call Sweet Lady Sewer shortly after its little photo shoot.



Biting Beetle, 10x.



Biting Beetle, 60x.



The Face Of Evil, 200x.

Brita Filter Innards

Sample: The innards of a "Brita" pitcher-type water filter.
Source: Free Box, Beloit College.

As far as I can tell, there are two components to this pitcher. The black stuff is activated charcoal, which wicks organic impurities and foul tastes out of the water. The green spherical stuff is some sort of ion-exchange resin, which scavenges nasties like lead, cadmium, and mercury, and replaces them with something benign, like potassium or sodium.



Brita Stuff, 10x.



Brita Stuff, 60x.



Activated Charcoal, 200x.



Ion Exchange Resin, 200x.



Ion Exchange Resin, 60x.



Ion Exchange Resin, 200x.

Cork

Sample: The cork backing in a metal ruler.
Source: A ruler I found on the sidewalk.

Is this real cork? I have no idea. Looks like some kind of cork-like foam.



Cork, 10x.



Cork, 60x.



Cork, 200x.

Crab Shell

Sample: Red Rock Crab carapace.
Source: Wright's Beach, CA.

It could be from the same crab. But maybe not.



Crab shell, 10x.



Crab Shell, 60x.



Crab Shell, 200x.

Halogen Filament

Sample: A metal filament from a halogen bulb.
Source: My desk lamp.

"Halogen" bulbs operate on the same basic principle as your conventional incandescent bulbs. Electricity flows through a tungsten filament, heating it and causing it to glow. Halogen bulbs, however, run at a much higher temperature (hence all the warnings about touching them, kepping flammables away, etc.) In fact, these bulbs are hot enough to slowly evaporate away their filaments. The halogen moniker comes from the presence of a tiny amount of iodine vapor present in the otherwise near-vaccuum of the bulb. Tungsten evaporated from the filament reacts with the iodine, which assists in redepositing back on the filament, extending the life of the bulb.

The 200x image here is another one of my personal favorites. Science as art.



Filament, 10x.



Filament, 60x.



Filament, 200x.

Tiny little flower

Sample: A miniscule blue blossom from a lone spring-bound plant.
Source: The ground, Outside.

Spring is not quite in the air yet, but some plants don't know that. I just don't have the heart to ruin it for them.



Tiny little flower, 10x.



Flower, 60x.



Flower, 200x.



Flower innards, 200x.



Flower Petal, 60x.



Flower Petal, 200x.

Kumquat

Sample: A kumquat, a small tart fruit.
Source: Anne Barkow.



Kumquat, 10x.



Kumquat, 60x.



Kumquat, 200x.



Kumquat Slice, 10x.



Kumquat Slice, 60x.



Kumquat Slice, 200x.

Nintendo Chip

Sample: A chip of some kind taken from a Nintendo cartridge.
Source: Super Mario Brothers/Duck Hunt cartridge.

This came from a broken cartridge from Goodwill. I always wondered what was in these things. Perhaps someday I'll figure out the trick to get the chip out without severely damaging it.



Nintendo Chip, 10x.



Nintendo Chip, 60x.



Nintendo Chip, 200x.



Nintendo Chip, 200x.

Screw

Sample: A nail with balls.
Source: A hardware store... With balls.

This is one hardcore nail.



Screw, 10x.



Screw, 60x.



Screw, 200x.

Skittle

Sample: A skittle.
Source: Probably some bag of skittles I had once. I bet I dropped this one.

To make up for the spider, how about... Candy!

I'd love to see that machine that paints the "S" onto the skittle.



Skittle, 10x.



Skittle, 60x.



Skittle, 200x.

Arachnaphobia personified

Sample: Spider.
Source: Beloit College glassblowing lab.

Biological critters are hard to image because of their constant movement. Perhaps one day, I will find a larger spider that will move less and be able to obtain truly terrifying photos.



Spider, 10x.



Spider from the bottom, 60x.



Spider bottom, 200x.



Spider face, 60x.



Spider fangs, 200x.



Spider fangs 200x 2.



Spider face top, 60x.



Spider face top, 200x.