Nearly visible Diatom

Here you can post pictures and videos to show others.
Post Reply
Message
Author
DonSchaeffer
Posts: 3274
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2020 10:06 am
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Nearly visible Diatom

#1 Post by DonSchaeffer » Fri Jan 21, 2022 3:59 pm

I've been interested in showing close or far microscopic objects are from visibility. I made a scale using my micrometer. Psychophysics research suggests that .1 millimeter is close to the human limit for acuity. I found a diatom that is very close to that length. Width counts as well of course--the diatom might theoretically be seen by the naked eye as an invisibly thin line.
largeDiatom.jpg
largeDiatom.jpg (191.28 KiB) Viewed 678 times

dtsh
Posts: 977
Joined: Wed May 01, 2019 6:06 pm
Location: Wisconsin

Re: Nearly visible Diatom

#2 Post by dtsh » Fri Jan 21, 2022 4:10 pm

Hi Don,

I have a diatom test slide and while it's very hard to see them with the naked eye, I have found that when I am adjusting the position of the slide, the light coming up and illuminating them from below makes it to where I can just make out the group as individual points that glimmer. A pair of younger eyes might be able to make out the larger ones as objects.

DonSchaeffer
Posts: 3274
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2020 10:06 am
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Re: Nearly visible Diatom

#3 Post by DonSchaeffer » Fri Jan 21, 2022 8:52 pm

Very interesting!

Post Reply