This might look like a bird from Tron just laid an egg in some futuristic nest, but in fact you’re looking at the nucleus of a single human cell.
The image shows the nucleus of a lab-cultured monkey kidney cell, lying amongst a network of microtubules. Those hollow filaments provide the cell with proteins, which help it move and divide. Crucially, though, you’re viewing it at 100 times magnification.
The image is one of the entrants in the Nikon Small World competition, which recognises the best pictures taken using a microscope every single year. The winner will be announced later this month. [New Scientist]
Picture: Mariela Loschi