Sand can look beautiful under the microscope. Of course there are many different types of sand and so far I have only studied a few types with the microscope.

The wide variety of colors in flowers and fruits is largely caused by pigment containing organelles called chromoplasts. Chromoplasts belong to the plastids and they are responsible for the bright red, orange and yellow colors in many fruits and flowers.

Stomata consist of specialised cells that mainly occur on the underside of leaves. They regulate the gas exchange between the plant and it’s environment, the plant is 'breathing' through them, as it were. Stomata are very recognizable by the two bean-shaped guard cells that regulate the size of the opening.

In the cells of most plants, crystals consisting of calcium oxalate are found which are formed by a process called  biomineralisation. It is thought that these crystals act as a storage reservoir for calcium and also provide for the storage of toxic waste (detoxification). The crystals come in a variety of shapes and some are characteristic of certain plant groups.

It is not that often that I look at blood under the microscope. It usually happens when I get injured and have the opportunity to get a microscope. After an unfortunate shave, I act quickly so that I can prepare a slide from the blood before it dries up.