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Sometimes bigger is better, but other times it's all about the details, and as you can see from the winners of Nikon's 2017 Small World Photomicrography competition, it doesn't get more detailed than this.

The competition, which is now in its 43rd year, attracts doctors, scientists, and macro photography enthusiasts from all over the world, and over 2000 people from 88 countries submitted their work for consideration this year. For those of you who don't know, photomicrography is the practice of taking a photograph through a microscope or similar magnifying device in order to capture the intricate details of things invisible to the human eye.

This year's top prize went to researchers at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, BioImaging Facility & Department of Cell Biology, who captured immortalised human skin cells expressing fluorescently tagged keratin. Scroll down to see the rest of the winners. The categories are divided into winners, honorable mentions, and images of distinction, and you can find the full list on the Nikon Small World website.

More info: Nikon Small World (h/t: mymodernmet)

#1

Jumping Spider, Istanbul, Honorable Mention

Jumping Spider, Istanbul, Honorable Mention

Emre Can Alagöz Report

Yezid Puerto
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

nope, a nope with four nopes,..., with great eyelashes,..., but nope........

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    #2

    Paracetamol (Common Painkiller) Crystals, Finland, Image Of Distinction

    Paracetamol (Common Painkiller) Crystals, Finland, Image Of Distinction

    Henri Koskinen Report

    ChubbySquid
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It looks as if the northern lights just fell to earth above Antarctica and coloured the glaciers.

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    #3

    Living Volvox Algae Releasing Its Daughter Colonies, Nantes, 3rd Place

    Living Volvox Algae Releasing Its Daughter Colonies, Nantes, 3rd Place

    Jean-Marc Babalian Report

    #4

    The Head Of A Pork Tapeworm, New York, 4th Place

    The Head Of A Pork Tapeworm, New York, 4th Place

    Teresa Zgoda Report

    Hans
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    One more reason not to have a pet tapeworm.

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    #5

    Mold On A Tomato, Netanya, 5th Place

    Mold On A Tomato, Netanya, 5th Place

    Dean Lerman Report

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    #6

    Traxacum Officinale (Dandelion) Cross Section Showing Curved Stigma With Pollen, Nottingham, Honorable Mention

    Traxacum Officinale (Dandelion) Cross Section Showing Curved Stigma With Pollen, Nottingham, Honorable Mention

    Dr. Robert Markus Report

    #7

    Immortalized Human Skin Cells Expressing Fluorescently Tagged Keratin, Amsterdam, 1st Place

    Immortalized Human Skin Cells Expressing Fluorescently Tagged Keratin, Amsterdam, 1st Place

    Dr. Bram van den Broek, Andriy Volkov, Dr. Kees Jalink, Dr. Reinhard Windoffer & Dr. Nicole Schwarz Report

    Vlad Horobet
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They should put this into biology books near the "mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell..."

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    #8

    Plastic Fracturing On Credit Card Hologram, Texas, 11th Place

    Plastic Fracturing On Credit Card Hologram, Texas, 11th Place

    Steven Simon Report

    Mama Panda
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It looks like an album cover for the band Journey!

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    #9

    Natural Bridge (Petiole Nodes) Connecting The Abdomen And Thorax Of An Ant, Izmir, Image Of Destinction

    Natural Bridge (Petiole Nodes) Connecting The Abdomen And Thorax Of An Ant, Izmir, Image Of Destinction

    Can Tunçer Report

    Lara B.
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow! This seems like such a fragile connection.

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    #10

    Synapta (Sea-Cucumber) Skin, Le Mans, 18th Place

    Synapta (Sea-Cucumber) Skin, Le Mans, 18th Place

    Christian Gautier Report

    #11

    3rd Trimester Fetus Of Megachiroptera, Colorado, 15th Place

    3rd Trimester Fetus Of Megachiroptera, Colorado, 15th Place

    Dr. Rick Adams Report

    Vlad Horobet
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    To anyone who does not know what a Megachiroptera is the bigger version of the Chiroptera. J.k. It's a fruit eating bat.

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    #12

    Asilidae (Rubber Fly) Eye Section, Abu Dhabi, Image Of Distinction

    Asilidae (Rubber Fly) Eye Section, Abu Dhabi, Image Of Distinction

    Yousef Al Habshi Report

    Samantha Bing
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Perfect example of math and art intertwining to make nature

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    #13

    Senecio Vulgaris Seed Head, Israel, 2nd Place

    Senecio Vulgaris Seed Head, Israel, 2nd Place

    Dr. Havi Sarfaty Report

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    #14

    Ganglion Cells Expressing Fluorescent Proteins In A Mouse Retina, California, Honorable Mention

    Ganglion Cells Expressing Fluorescent Proteins In A Mouse Retina, California, Honorable Mention

    Dr. Keunyoung Kim Report

    #15

    Broccoli, Washington, Honorable Mention

    Broccoli, Washington, Honorable Mention

    Dr. Nathan Myhrvold Report

    #16

    Opiliones (Daddy Longlegs) Eye, Washington, 12th Place

    Opiliones (Daddy Longlegs) Eye, Washington, 12th Place

    Charles B. Krebs Report

    KT Trondsen
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow, this won't give my nightmares fodder at all

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    #17

    Pyromorphite (Mineral), Spain, Image Of Distinction

    Pyromorphite (Mineral), Spain, Image Of Distinction

    Emilio Carabajal Márquez Report

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    #18

    Lily Pollen, Southampton, 6th Place

    Lily Pollen, Southampton, 6th Place

    Dr. David A. Johnston Report

    #19

    Nsutite And Cacoxenite (Minerals), Madrid, Image Of Distinction

    Nsutite And Cacoxenite (Minerals), Madrid, Image Of Distinction

    Emilio Carabajal Márquez Report

    Samantha Bing
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Those eye looking things are definitely staring

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    #20

    Individually Labeled Axons In An Embryonic Chick Ciliary Ganglion, Nagoya, 7th Place

    Individually Labeled Axons In An Embryonic Chick Ciliary Ganglion, Nagoya, 7th Place

    Dr. Ryo Egawa Report

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    #21

    Neurons Derived From A Parkinson Patient, Seongnam, Honorable Mention

    Neurons Derived From A Parkinson Patient, Seongnam, Honorable Mention

    Dr. Regis Grailhe, Nasia Antoniou & Dr. Rebecca Matsas Report

    Krista Leary
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Looks like a dream catcher....how incredibly untrue.

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    #22

    Abdominal Proleg Of A Caterpillar, Netanya, Image Of Destinction

    Abdominal Proleg Of A Caterpillar, Netanya, Image Of Destinction

    Dean Lerman Report

    Zori the degu
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It looks so complicated due to the fact that it's supposed to glue the caterpillar to the wall/plant/etc.

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    #23

    Aspergillus Flavus (Fungus) And Yeast Colony From Soil, New York, 20th Place

    Aspergillus Flavus (Fungus) And Yeast Colony From Soil, New York, 20th Place

    Tracy Scott Report

    Magpie
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Or a rising sun over the marshes. Nature imitating nature :))) stunning.

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    #24

    Melaleuca Sp. (Paperbark Tree) Leaf, Perth, Image Of Distinction

    Melaleuca Sp. (Paperbark Tree) Leaf, Perth, Image Of Distinction

    Dr. Paul Joseph Rigby Report

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    #25

    Small Moth, Rostock, Image Of Destinction

    Small Moth, Rostock, Image Of Destinction

    Jan Rosenboom Report

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    #26

    Moth Eggs In Spider Silk, Illinois, Image Of Destinction

    Moth Eggs In Spider Silk, Illinois, Image Of Destinction

    Walter Piorkowski Report

    The Cappy
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We'll be seeing this in a future Star Wars movie. Some alien city, I'm predicting.

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    #27

    Liquid Crystal, Colorado, Honorable Mention

    Liquid Crystal, Colorado, Honorable Mention

    Michael Tuchband Report

    Daria B
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    For some reason, it reminds me of traditional Chinese dresses. I can totally imagine this as a pattern.

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    #28

    Parus Major (Titmouse) Down Feather, Podlaskie, 16th Place

    Parus Major (Titmouse) Down Feather, Podlaskie, 16th Place

    Marek Miś Report

    Copper Vyxen
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Thank you for putting the common name in the title!

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    #29

    Nerves (In Green) Under The Skin Of A Mouse (Hair Follicles Are Shown In Red And Blue), Uk, Image Of Distinction

    Nerves (In Green) Under The Skin Of A Mouse (Hair Follicles Are Shown In Red And Blue), Uk, Image Of Distinction

    Henri Koskinen Report

    Zori the degu
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It looks like a tree covered in fruit bats...

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    #30

    Dyed Human Hair, Steinberg, 17th Place

    Dyed Human Hair, Steinberg, 17th Place

    Harald K. Andersen Report

    Zori the degu
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's both disgusting and beautiful... Is it even possible?

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    #31

    Natural Sponge, Uk, Image Of Distinction

    Natural Sponge, Uk, Image Of Distinction

    Dr. David A. Johnston Report

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    #32

    Common Mestra Butterfly Eggs, Laid On A Leaf Of Tragia Sp., Texas, 14th Place

    Common Mestra Butterfly Eggs, Laid On A Leaf Of Tragia Sp., Texas, 14th Place

    David Millard Report

    #33

    Stamen (Flower Organ),yahud Monsun, Image Of Distinction

    Stamen (Flower Organ),yahud Monsun, Image Of Distinction

    Samuel Silberman Report

    Krista Leary
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This looks like a purple snake....

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    #34

    Circocerus (Beetle) Head, Kiel, Image Of Distinction

    Circocerus (Beetle) Head, Kiel, Image Of Distinction

    Dr. Jan Michels Report

    Angie Woollard
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So cool and colourful! Looks like a Dr. Seuss creature.

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    #35

    Hippocampal (Brain) Region, California, Image Of Distinction

    Hippocampal (Brain) Region, California, Image Of Distinction

    Dr. Sarah Moghadam & Dr. Ahmad Salehi Report

    Mama Panda
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is what a dirty mind looks like lol

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    #36

    Growing Cartilage-Like Tissue In The Lab Using Bone Stem Cells (Collagen Fibers In Green And Fat Deposits In Red), Southampton, 9th Place

    Growing Cartilage-Like Tissue In The Lab Using Bone Stem Cells (Collagen Fibers In Green And Fat Deposits In Red), Southampton, 9th Place

    Catarina Moura, Dr. Sumeet Mahajan, Dr. Richard Oreffo & Dr. Rahul Tare Report

    Vlad Horobet
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Growing Christmas-tree -like tissue in the lab...

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    #37

    Newborn Rat Cochlea With Sensory Hair Cells (Green) And Spiral Ganglion Neurons (Red), Bern, 8th Place

    Newborn Rat Cochlea With Sensory Hair Cells (Green) And Spiral Ganglion Neurons (Red), Bern, 8th Place

    Dr. Michael Perny Report

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    #38

    Simple Eyes Of Ectemnius With Condensation, Tonbridge, Image Of Destinction

    Simple Eyes Of Ectemnius With Condensation, Tonbridge, Image Of Destinction

    Laurie Knight Report

    Summer Woodsong
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ectemnius is a genus of wasps in the family Crabronidae - Wikipedia

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    #39

    Pleurotaenium Ovatum, Panama, Image Of Distinction

    Pleurotaenium Ovatum, Panama, Image Of Distinction

    Rogelio Moreno Gill Report

    #40

    Warp Knitted Curtain Fabric, Zwijnaarde, Honorable Mention

    Warp Knitted Curtain Fabric, Zwijnaarde, Honorable Mention

    Marc Van Hove Report

    Krista Leary
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    omg, upvote for the one thing on this list that isn't mouse parts!

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    #41

    Label-Free Optical Imaging Of Human Breast Tissue, Illinois, Image Of Distinction

    Label-Free Optical Imaging Of Human Breast Tissue, Illinois, Image Of Distinction

    Sixian You, Dr. Stephen A.J. Boppart & Dr. Haohua Tu Report

    Sharon Hahn
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow! No wonder it's so hard to see a small lump!

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    #42

    Exaerete Frontalis From The Collections Of The Oxford University Museum Of Natural History, Ramsbury, 13th Place

    Exaerete Frontalis From The Collections Of The Oxford University Museum Of Natural History, Ramsbury, 13th Place

    Levon Biss Report

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    #43

    Phyllobius Roboretanus (Weevil), Keszthely, 10th Place

    Phyllobius Roboretanus (Weevil), Keszthely, 10th Place

    Dr. Csaba Pintér Report

    #44

    Migrasome Of A Mouse Fibroblast Cell (L929), Beijing, Image Of Distinction

    Migrasome Of A Mouse Fibroblast Cell (L929), Beijing, Image Of Distinction

    Dr. Liang Ma & Dr. Li Yu Report

    #45

    Human Tongue Blood Vessels Injected With Lead Chromate, New York, Honorable Mention

    Human Tongue Blood Vessels Injected With Lead Chromate, New York, Honorable Mention

    Frank Reiser Report

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    #46

    Sagittal Section Of Mouse Cerebellum (Brain), Athens, Image Of Distinction

    Sagittal Section Of Mouse Cerebellum (Brain), Athens, Image Of Distinction

    Dr. Aikaterini Segklia Report

    Echo
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is a great picture. It shows so much!

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    #47

    Early Stage Development Of Alcea Rosea (An Ornamental Flower), Usa, Image Of Distinction

    Early Stage Development Of Alcea Rosea (An Ornamental Flower), Usa, Image Of Distinction

    Masoumeh Sahar Khodaverdi Report

    webbkitten
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Does anyone else see a pile of beans?

    #48

    Prostate Cancer Cells, Usa, Image Of Distinction

    Prostate Cancer Cells, Usa, Image Of Distinction

    James E. Hayden, FBCA, RBP Report

    #49

    Ciliated Respiratory Epithelial Cells (Yellow) And Mucus Producing Goblet Cells (Cyan), Containing Tight Junctions (Red) And Nuclei (Blue), Rotterdam, Honorable Mention

    Ciliated Respiratory Epithelial Cells (Yellow) And Mucus Producing Goblet Cells (Cyan), Containing Tight Junctions (Red) And Nuclei (Blue), Rotterdam, Honorable Mention

    Alwin de Jong, Dr. G.J. Kremers & Dr. R.L. de Swart Report

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    #50

    Embryonic Body Wall From A Developing Mus Musculus, Tennessee, 19th Place

    Embryonic Body Wall From A Developing Mus Musculus, Tennessee, 19th Place

    Dr. Dylan Burnette Report

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    #51

    Dye-Injected Hippocampal Interneuron In Mouse Brain Section, Budapest, Honorable Mention

    Dye-Injected Hippocampal Interneuron In Mouse Brain Section, Budapest, Honorable Mention

    Benjamin Barti Report

    Vlad Horobet
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "mom, i've dyed my hair pink, now i'm pretty" "oh honey, i've told you, it's how you are on the inside that matter" "well, gotta go to dye my hippocampal interneurons".

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