Winners of WSC23: Image sets – Wiki Science Competition

The following post list the winners of WSC 2023.

Comment from the authors (Brandon Antonio Segura Torres & Priscilla Vieto Bonilla):

My wife and I, both co-authors of the photography, are undergraduate students in Biological Sciences at the National University of Comahue in Bariloche, Argentina.

We began delving into the microscopic world during the pandemic, as we could not attend labs in person. To continue our studies, we acquired a microscope to conduct lab work at home. Having access to the microscope allowed us to dedicate many hours to microscopic observation and improving photography techniques. Currently, we have had the opportunity to learn and use a wide variety of techniques and microscopes, such as confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and refining techniques like polarized light, dark field, and phase contrast microscopy. Additionally, we have designed 3D-printed parts to adapt various photography devices to conventional microscopes, enabling us to capture high-quality images that contribute to the scientific dissemination of the microscopic world.

The story behind the photograph is quite interesting. As biology students, we are deeply drawn to peculiar animals, which led us to the opportunity to raise a pair of axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum). Although axolotls are critically endangered in the wild, there are more individuals in captivity worldwide than in their natural habitat, which in some way helps preserve the species.

After a year of care, our axolotls reproduced, giving us the chance to document the embryonic development of an axolotl egg. To achieve this, the axolotl egg remained under the microscope for 18 days with constant hydration around the clock. Being so delicate, it could not be moved from one place to another, so it stayed under the microscope throughout the entire development process.

Comment from the jury:

In many Wiki Science Competition editions, microscopy plays a crucial role in the “Image Sets” category by revealing details hidden to the naked eye. A series of images tells a more complete and compelling story.This image series showcases the developmental journey of an axolotl embryo, from its earliest stages to a fully formed organism. The precision and clarity of the images highlight not only the beauty and complexity of developmental biology but also the meticulous techniques involved in sample preparation and imaging. The symmetry and thoughtful layout enhance the clarity and impact of the series, adding an element of visual elegance.