Gallery: Best Microscope Photos of the Year Bring Tiny, Amazing Worlds to Light
0101-25002-Egmond-Chaetoceros-debilis
__1st Place: Wim van Egmond__, Micropolitan Museum, Berkel en Rodenrijs, Zuid Holland, The Netherlands __Subject:__ *Chaetoceros debilis* (marine diatom), a colonial plankton organism __Technique:__ Differential Interference Contrast, Image Stacking __Magnification:__ 250x
0202-24744-Corbo-retina-image-1000px
__2nd Place__: __Joseph Corbo__, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri __Subject:__ *Chrysemys picta* (painted turtle) retina __Technique:__ Differential Interference Contrast __Magnification:__ 400x
ALVARO MIGOTTO0303-24880-marine worm
__3rd Place: Alvaro Esteves Migotto__, Universidade de São Paulo, Centro de Biologia Marinha São Paulo, Brazil __Subject:__ Marine worm __Technique:__ Stereomicroscopy, Darkfield __Magnification:__ 20x
Rogelio Moreno Gill04Paramecium
__4th Place: Rogelio Moreno Gill__, Panama City, Panamá __Subject:__ *Paramecium sp.* showing the nucleus, mouth and water expulsion vacuoles __Technique:__ Differential Interference Contrast __Magnification:__ 40x
0505-24503-Entry-21710-K Boyle 1
__5th Place: Kieran Boyle__, University of Glasgow, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, Scotland __Subject:__ Hippocampal neuron receiving excitatory contacts __Technique:__ Fluorescence and Confocal __Magnification:__ 63x
0606-24617-DoritHockman-Chameleon
__6th Place: Dorit Hockman__, University of Cambridge, England __Subject:__ *Chamaeleo calyptratus* (veiled chameleon), embryo showing cartilage (blue) and bone (red) __Technique:__ Brightfield
0707-25128-Jan-Michels-Image-3
__7th Place: Jan Michels__, Institute of Zoology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Germany __Subject:__ Adhesive pad on a foreleg of *Coccinella septempunctata* (ladybird beetle) __Technique:__ Confocal, Autofluorescence __Magnification:__ 20x
0808-24474-Turzanska-1
__8th Place: Magdalena Turzańska__, Institute of Experimental Biology, University of Wrocław, Poland __Subject:__ *Barbilophozia sp.* (a leafy liverwort, bryophyte plant) and cyanobacteria __Technique:__ Epi-autofluorescence under UV light, z-stack reconstruction __Magnification:__ 50x
0909-25089-spiderbug007-1000px
__9th Place: Mark A. Sanders__, University Imaging Centers, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis __Subject:__ Insect wrapped in spider web __Technique:__ Confocal, Autofluorescence, Image Stacking __Magnification:__ 85x
Photographer:Ted Kinsman1010-24240-dino-bone12-09-24-203703-M=B-R=18-S=2
__10th Place: Ted Kinsman__, Department of Imaging and Photo Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, New York __Subject:__ Thin section of a dinosaur bone preserved in clear agate __Technique:__ Focus Stacking __Magnification:__ 10x
1111-24953-VitoriaTSantos04
__11th Place: Vitoria Tobias Santos__, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil __Subject:__ *Macrobrachium shrimp* (ghost shrimp) eye __Technique:__ Stereomicroscopy __Magnification:__ 140x
1212-23972-Oxide on LOR
__12th Place: Pedro Barrios-Perez__, CPFC (nanofabrication), National Research Council of Canada/Information and Communication Technologies, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada __Subject:__ Silicon dioxide on polydimethylglutarimide-based resist __Technique:__ Bright field microscopy __Magnification:__ 200x
1313-24523-Mouse Vertebra Large Stitched Extended DOF fluorescence border with scale
__13th Place: Michael Paul Nelson and Samantha Smith__, Department of Pathology/Neuropathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham __Subject:__ Mouse vertebra section __Technique:__ Focus Stacking __Magnification:__ 200x
1414-24535-Mouse Embryo 3Color
__14th Place: Zhong Hua__, Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland __Subject:__ Peripheral nerves in E11.5 mouse embryo __Technique:__ Confocal __Magnification:__ 5x
1515-24290-Scheckhuber-3
__15th Place: Christian Q. Scheckhuber__, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany __Subject:__ *Podospora anserina* (fungus) filamentous tip cells __Technique:__ Fluorescence __Magnification:__ 630x
1616-24217-Pityohyphantes phrygianus 5x 30um 73
__16th Place: Geir Drange__, Asker, Norway __Subject:__ *Pityohyphantes phrygianus* (sheet weaver spider) with a parasitic wasp larva on the abdomen __Technique:__ Reflected Light, Focus Stacking __Magnification:__ 5x
1717-23448-L5PC-tryptic
__17th Place: Alexandre William Moreau__, Institute of Neurology, University College London, England __Subject:__ Pyramidal neurons and their dendrites visualized in the visual cortex of a mouse brain __Technique:__ 2-Photon, Focus Stacking, Fluorescence, Patch clamp __Magnification:__ 40x
1818-23953-IMG-2095-Annelid-Larvae-
__18th Place: Christian Sardet__, Department of Life Sciences, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France __Subject:__ Annelid larva __Technique:__ Darkfield __Magnification:__ 100x
David G. Ward19Motor neuron and skeletal muscle
__19th Place: David Ward__, [dgward.com](http://dgward.com), Oakdale, California __Subject:__ Nerve and muscle thin section __Technique:__ Brightfield, Image Stacking __Magnification:__ 40x
Imaris x64 6.1.4 [Jul 31 2008]20Imaris Snapshot
__20th Place: James Burchfield__, The Garvan Institute, Sydney, Australia __Subject:__ The explosive dynamics of sugar transport in fat cells __Technique:__ Live Cell Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence __Magnification:__ 1,000,000X
Breathe Easy Thanks to the Best Air Purifier for Every Home
Protect your home against dust, pets, allergies, and more with the best air purifiers, tested firsthand.
Molly Higgins
The Best Duffel Bags for Commuters and Chronic Overpackers
Need to schlep some stuff? These field-tested duffels can handle your baggage.
Louryn Strampe
The WIRED Guide to Los Angeles for Business Travelers
A tech industry guide to where to stay, eat, work, and play while visiting LA.
Jordan Michelman
The Best Travel Toiletry Bags for Every Trip
Our team evaluated a ton of toiletry bags to find the best storage, organization, and design options for all your essentials.
Kat Merck
Quell the Heat With Our Favorite Window Air Conditioners
These are the AC units we’ve trusted to cool our homes for months, if not years.
Matthew Korfhage
This Year’s Best Father’s Day Gifts for the Man Who Says He Doesn’t Need Anything
Dads are traditionally tough to shop for—let me help with these handpicked gift ideas for fathers with great taste.
Martin Cizmar
The Best Meal Kits of 2026, Tested by a Former Restaurant Critic
Here are the best meal kits in 2026, including Martha Stewart’s delivery box, a GLP-1–supportive plan, and a budget-friendly option.
Matthew Korfhage
The Best Wireless Chargers to Refuel Your Phone (or Watch)
Stop fumbling for cables in the dark. These WIRED-tested stands and pads will take the hassle out of refueling your phone, wireless earbuds, and watch.
Simon Hill
The Dyson Vacuums Worth Buying
Feeling the pull of a new clean machine? We’ll help you make sense of Dyson’s whirlwind vacuum lineup.
Nena Farrell
The Romance Scammer Who Made a Small Fortune Posing as a WWE Superstar
In this excerpt from WIRED Book Club pick The Yahoo Boys, journalist Carlos Barragán traces one scammer’s journey from flop to fortune.
Carlos Barragán
The Best Computer Speakers for Jamming Out in Your Home Office
These WIRED-tested computer speakers, from stereo speakers to surround sound, will suit any budget.
Simon Hill
I Tried 13 of the Most Popular Indoor Gardening Systems
Grow a backyard’s worth of greens and vegetables in your house with a vertical hydroponic garden. Here are a few that might be worth the investment.
Kat Merck