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| Microscope observes life of the ocean floor | Microscope observes life of the ocean floor |
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| Marine scientists have developed a microscope that for the first time provides a window into the small scale behaviour of marine life. | Marine scientists have developed a microscope that for the first time provides a window into the small scale behaviour of marine life. |
| The Great Barrier Reef, a huge collection of 600 types of coral, is so large it can been seen from space. | The Great Barrier Reef, a huge collection of 600 types of coral, is so large it can been seen from space. |
| It is therefore easy to forget that this form of marine life undergoes processes on a much smaller scale. | It is therefore easy to forget that this form of marine life undergoes processes on a much smaller scale. |
| The team from California and Israel outline details of the microscope in Nature Communications. | The team from California and Israel outline details of the microscope in Nature Communications. |
| The health and changing characteristics of coastal marine life such as kelp forests, mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs are significantly affected by activities that occur at sizes a thousand times smaller than a millimetre. | |
| Observing these processes though is a tricky business. The rapidly changing water currents, temperature, oxygen levels, and acidity have so far made studies on this scale impossible in their natural environment. | Observing these processes though is a tricky business. The rapidly changing water currents, temperature, oxygen levels, and acidity have so far made studies on this scale impossible in their natural environment. |
| Previously, researchers have taken marine life into the lab, once removed from the ocean, though, crucial information is lost about how the samples interact and behave. | Previously, researchers have taken marine life into the lab, once removed from the ocean, though, crucial information is lost about how the samples interact and behave. |
| The new instrument was therefore developed to operate at the sea floor. | The new instrument was therefore developed to operate at the sea floor. |
| The group of scientists have demonstrated the impact of this microscope by recording the behaviour of individual polyps, the small animals that together make up coral reefs. | The group of scientists have demonstrated the impact of this microscope by recording the behaviour of individual polyps, the small animals that together make up coral reefs. |
| They observed differing species of polyp attacking each other with extended stinging filaments, and also individual polyps connecting to share resources. | They observed differing species of polyp attacking each other with extended stinging filaments, and also individual polyps connecting to share resources. |
| As coral reefs around the world are declining in size due to human activities a deeper knowledge of the small scale processes causing this demise is required. This microscope has the potential to provide these observations. | As coral reefs around the world are declining in size due to human activities a deeper knowledge of the small scale processes causing this demise is required. This microscope has the potential to provide these observations. |
| The microscope consists of shape changing lens made from a flexible membrane filled with fluid. By applying electricity the shape of the lens could be changed. Focused LED light ensured the marine life was well lit. | The microscope consists of shape changing lens made from a flexible membrane filled with fluid. By applying electricity the shape of the lens could be changed. Focused LED light ensured the marine life was well lit. |
| All the equipment was contained in a compact system that could be taken down to the sea floor and operated by a diver. | All the equipment was contained in a compact system that could be taken down to the sea floor and operated by a diver. |
| The scientists report that the new microscope will be able to impact upon a diverse range of scientific fields including ecology, physiology, biomechanics, fluid dynamics, marine geology and physics. | The scientists report that the new microscope will be able to impact upon a diverse range of scientific fields including ecology, physiology, biomechanics, fluid dynamics, marine geology and physics. |