The Invisible Existent
existent having being:existing:present
A newspaper is an ordinary item, but it hides an extraordinary sight in its printers' ink. When the text is put under a high power microscope it is seen to be constantly jittering, colliding, a dance of molecules. The action is named "Brownian motion".
Fruit flies are the tiny darlings of scientific experiment, but are nuisances to be gotten rid of when they descend on overripe fruit or decaying vegetables. And yet, when a fruit fly wing is seen through a microscope an enchantment appears: a lacy, shimmering rainbow of color which elicits astonishment that radiant beauty can be found in so common an insect.
A springtime leaf is green and appears solidly so, but when one is picked and placed under a microscope there is movement: a network of tiny green rivers of chlorophyll are seen to be flowing through it.
These phenomena are some of the "invisible existents" until revealed by the microscope. What have you seen when using a microscope that most surprised you? Did someone once give you a toy science set that contained a microscope? Would the three examples given above lead you to investigate other things that might reveal an unexpected characteristic?
An aside From telescopes in outer space we have pictures of our planet Earth, a beautiful jewel. We can imagine that we are in that picture even though no microscope can show us ourselves. We are the Invisible Existent!
A newspaper is an ordinary item, but it hides an extraordinary sight in its printers' ink. When the text is put under a high power microscope it is seen to be constantly jittering, colliding, a dance of molecules. The action is named "Brownian motion".
Fruit flies are the tiny darlings of scientific experiment, but are nuisances to be gotten rid of when they descend on overripe fruit or decaying vegetables. And yet, when a fruit fly wing is seen through a microscope an enchantment appears: a lacy, shimmering rainbow of color which elicits astonishment that radiant beauty can be found in so common an insect.
A springtime leaf is green and appears solidly so, but when one is picked and placed under a microscope there is movement: a network of tiny green rivers of chlorophyll are seen to be flowing through it.
These phenomena are some of the "invisible existents" until revealed by the microscope. What have you seen when using a microscope that most surprised you? Did someone once give you a toy science set that contained a microscope? Would the three examples given above lead you to investigate other things that might reveal an unexpected characteristic?
An aside From telescopes in outer space we have pictures of our planet Earth, a beautiful jewel. We can imagine that we are in that picture even though no microscope can show us ourselves. We are the Invisible Existent!
posted by marguerite louise at
9:40 PM
17 Comments:
This is an awesome post and I can't believe you don't have any comments yet.
Since I have a degree in Biomedical Science with a concentration in Microbiology, I could write a book or two about the invisible existent.
By
Marguerite, at 6/12/2005 9:47 PM
The newspaper print is jiggling? What a relief! I thought I needed new bifocals!
I bought a microscope at an auction two summers ago and had so much fun looking at the slides and preparing my own that word got around the neighborhood fast and the kids queued up at my door. Everyone got a slide and cover to take home for a DIY project. It was hilarious what they brought back to view: Mold from something in the back of the fridge, dog hair, cat hair, dust bunnies, mildew from the shower, etc. They learned how to make slides and use a microscope; I learned I wasn't the worst housekeeper in the development.
Another great post---thank you!
By
Anonymous, at 6/12/2005 9:56 PM
To Marguerite: I wish you WOULD write a book! I would love to read it.
To Sharon:I'm glad you had such a good experience with your microscope and especially great that you got all thos neighborhood kids interested. Who knows what future scientists you have encouraged.
By
marguerite louise, at 6/12/2005 10:24 PM
Great post, Mom (Oops, I mean, Odysseuse...).
Whenever I see ants franically trying to rebuild their home after it has been all but demoished by a careless lawnmower, I am always struck by how they mimic humans who rush to help in a natural disaster. So, as I am the giant being watching their tiny efforts, I wonder about the view from the beings that may watch our similar efforts.
By
Anonymous, at 6/13/2005 11:00 AM
Oh dear, I see two typos...sorry, I shouldn't have identified myself as the daughter of someone who would NEVER publish something that contained errors...
apologies...
By
Anonymous, at 6/13/2005 11:02 AM
To Carrie: I am proud to acknowledge you my very intelligent daughter! Never mind about the typos...they happen. I found I couldn't correct typos in a "comment" so you'll find at least one in mine. All of us know what you meant to say, and that's what counts. Thanks!
By
marguerite louise, at 6/13/2005 11:24 AM
Thought you might enjoy this poem written by Czech immunologist, Miroslav Holub.
In the Microscope
Here too are the dreaming landscapes,
lunar, derelict.
Here too are the masses,
tillers of the soil.
And cells, fighters
who lay down their lives for a song.
Here too are cemeteries,
fame and snow.
And I hear the murmuring,
the revolt of immense estates.
-- Miroslav Holub
By
Anonymous, at 6/14/2005 8:53 PM
Once again I thank all of you for your comments that add so much life to my essays.
By
marguerite louise, at 6/14/2005 10:25 PM
This is a nice blog. Nobody answered your question about the most surprising thing under a microscope so I will.
In HS biology class someone brought food in from the school cafeteria and it had so much bacteria it was almost moving all by itself!!!!! We all lived tho-just lucky I guess. LOL
By
Anonymous, at 6/15/2005 8:15 AM
About typos in comments: I think, just leave it alone. We know and every reader knows what is meant! However, thanks for the tip on how to correct an error if the typo is really awful.
By
marguerite louise, at 6/15/2005 12:55 PM
Kimberly, I think we should all agree not to let a little thing like typos in comments bother us - not a bit!
By
marguerite louise, at 6/15/2005 4:56 PM
There are no typos, just letters which have become rearranged as a result of Brownian Motion.
By
Anonymous, at 6/15/2005 9:37 PM
What a delightful post! Microbiology was one of my favorite early college classes (part of my program to become a nurse in a much earlier lifetime). I was always intrigued to watch the changes as dyes were added, and to see what shapes cells actually were, often different than my pre-conceived notions. Thank you for a great read, as always!
By
Birdsong, at 6/16/2005 9:57 PM
Kimberly, I'd be honored if you used my Brownian Motion explanation for typos. Here are some other "scientific explanations" I've used:
Weight gain: Calories from family meal preparation entered my body through osmosis.
Forgetting where I parked the car: The earth's rotation caused it to slide to a different spot while I was in the store.
At class reunions, everybody looks younger than I do: They've been living in California. It's a different time zone.
Messy closets: Earthquakes and gravity. Also, volcanic eruption.
Dishes piled high in the sink: Reproduction.
And my kids' explanation for why the stereo went to a zillion decibels when I left the house and returned to normal when I came through the door: The Doppler Effect
Hope these get you through the day! :)
By
Anonymous, at 6/17/2005 6:37 AM
Let's hear it for Sharon! She should be writing clever and amusing one-liners for comedians!
By
marguerite louise, at 6/17/2005 9:02 AM
Thank you. Thank you very much.
(I can't write you a check this month, I'm broke. Do you take VISA or Mastercard? How about PayPal?)
By
Anonymous, at 6/17/2005 11:57 AM
Compliments on this blog are free! Be my guest - anytime!
By
marguerite louise, at 6/17/2005 12:39 PM
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