Pollen on a marigold flower

Marigold (Calendula officinalis) is a traditional medicinal plant (e.g. wound healing) but can also be simply used for food coloring (e.g. for cheese and butter).

The pollen was photographed in a scanning electron microscope and the image was colored Read more

Sperm morphology

Low sperm fertility rate is in many cases associated with an accumulation of morphological abnormalities of individual spermatozoa.

Characterization of individual sperm morphology is usually performed by light microscopy, sometimes combined with specific dyes.

Scanning electron microscopy can also Read more

Fungi: Micro & Macro

Today we released our fungi section in strucTEM Measure: an exciting journey of discovery through the microscopic works of art in the fungi world.

https://www.structem.eu/tools/measure/?lang=en&collection=fungi

Fungal microscopy is not only exciting, it is also very useful: it allows Read more

Mold on mushroom

Our maroon mushroom stayed ways too long in the refrigerator and was all the sudden full of mold. Annoying!In the SEM however the molds look really nice.Concerning the determination we have no clue….We are grateful for every tip

Our Read more

Fungal spores as nanomaterial?

The tiny nanospheres shown in the scanning electron microscope are spores of a puffball, a fungus genus from the mushroom-like order.Because of their uniform size and shape retention after carbonization, researchers are considering their use as nano-biocarbon. E.g., in Read more

Hair analyses

Scanning electron microscopic hair analysis: quality control, origin control, product development or simply answering the question: “Is my hair healthy?”

Examples can be found in our interactive online softwarestrucTEM Measure Hair:https://www.structem.eu/tools/measure/?lang=en&collection=hair

Hair analyses with the scanning electron microscope: Read more

Rabbit hair

Rabbit and hare fur usually consists of thick, broad topcoat (orange) and thin undercoat (blue). The thin undercoat hairs are usually spinnable and are therefore also called underwool.Interesting & sad facts about Angora wool

The soft Angora wool Read more

Horsetail?

A fascinatingly ordered structure that reminds us of a horsetail.

However: it’s a hair from the undercoat of a mouse. It is so tiny that only a scanning electron microscope reveals the filigree structure.

Remember: if you don’t know Read more

Magic stick

Its all a question of correct dimensions!

What’s the diameter of this stick? Maybe three cm? Then it could be a branch. Or only 8mm? Then it’s probably a smoldering cigarette.

Find out for yourself in strucTEM-Measure:

https://www.structem.eu/tools/measure/?lang=en&collection=hair&id=strucTEM-SEM-human-hair-35-354-haare

Hedgehog Spine

Have you ever wondered about the structure of a hedgehog spine? Some say they are hairs that have grown together. Others say that the spines are hollow inside.

The truth is that both hair and hedgehog spines consist mainly Read more