Nikon Small World

We've collaborated with @chandraxray to compare NASA images from Chandra, Hubble, Webb and others, with images from #NikonSmallWorld to celebrate the similarities and differences between the astronomical and the microscopic. Read more about it here: s.si.edu/48ESqo3

Happy #SmallWorldInMotionMonday! We hope this video of a water flea giving birth inspires you to head into this week full of life. 🌟 bit.ly/4nLY1yL Credit: Jan van IJken

🎶 Butterfly fly away... into the weekend! Have a great one, everyone. 🦋✨ We'll see you back here on Monday! bit.ly/4dbY6Iy Credit: Ye Fei Zhang

How it feels when that 3pm coffee enters the bloodstream and reaches the brain ⚡️ bit.ly/4uQzyKW Credit: Hannah Somers

Let's get the week started with some knowledge: capillaries act as the ultimate interface between arteries and veins, delivering vital oxygen and nutrients directly to tissues while removing metabolic waste products. bit.ly/4dMfXWz Credit: Dr. Gaylene Russell McEvoy

This week is FLYing by! Only two more weeks until our judges gather in San Diego, California to choose the winners of this year's #NikonSmallWorld competitions. What subject are you hoping to see among the finalists? bit.ly/3RcA1Zo Credit: Charles Krebs

Have you ever been told you "have thick skin"? Well, the whale has you beat! Human skin is only about 0.07 inches thick, while marine mammals possess much thicker skin — in some cases up to 13 inches in width. bit.ly/3UEy2vp Credit: Christopher Whitney

The word “plankton” is derived from the Greek word for “drifter.” An organism is considered plankton if it is carried by tides and currents, and cannot swim well enough to move against these forces. bit.ly/4cM2Qmy Credit: Wim Van Egmond

Please join us in welcoming the 2026 Nikon Small World Competition judging panel: Corey Powell, Meredith Sagolla, Joe Dragavon, and Quinten Geldhof! 🎉 Read more in the press release: nikonsmallworld.com/news/nikon-ann… #NikonSmallWorld

Happy #SmallWorldInMotionMonday! A young Syllid worm, aka necklace worm, was one of the first worms to be found with pollen from seagrass in its stomach, making it a possible pollinator. bit.ly/4sQEsq9 Credit: Dr. Alvaro Migotto

#FunFactFriday: a shrimp carrying fertilized eggs is known as a berried shrimp because it looks like she's carrying a cluster of berries on her underside. 🫐 bit.ly/41XSoDF Credit: Waldo Nell

Slime mold is a popular subject among competition entrants each year, and for good reason! Just look how eye-catching these fungi can be when examined under the microscope. bit.ly/4tvvOOF Credit: Tim Boomer

Happy #SmallWorldInMotionMonday! It's a beautiful day to showcase the extraordinary beauty of an ordinary organism. This one can often be found in the US, clinging to your pets' skin, carrying several disease-causing bacteria. 🦠 bit.ly/3QxL1QO Credit: Quinten Geldhof

We're ITCHING to start looking through all the incredible submissions we've received. Thank you so much to everyone who entered the competitions this year! Stay tuned for information about our 2026 judging panel... coming soon! bit.ly/3HBHUCZ Credit: Dr. Jan Rosenboom

We hope your computer is firing as fast as your neurons to make sure any final entries are submitted before 11:59pm EST (U.S.) TONIGHT! This is your last reminder! We can't wait to see what you've captured. 📸🔬 Photo credit: Stella Whittaker, 7th place, #NikonSmallWorld 2025

We're THIS 🤏🏼 close to closing the entry portal for the 2026 #NikonSmallWorld competitions! Don't delay, get your submissions in now to be considered! Portal closes at 11:59pm EST (U.S.) tomorrow, April 30. Photo credit: Michael Parra Puentes, HM, Nikon Small World 2025

Hold on tight -- we're only two days away from the deadline to submit photos and videos to this year's #NikonSmallWorld competitions! Be sure to get your entries in before 11:59pm EST on April 30th to be considered. 🪱 Video credit: Quinten Geldhof, 5th place, SWIM 2024

Don't be like Dory and forget about the upcoming call for entries deadline. Just keep swimming... until you reach enter.nikonsmallworld.com and press submit! 🐠 bit.ly/4cvUqRB Credit: Daniel Knop

Who else is ready to dance the week's worries away and dive into the weekend? 🙋‍♂️ bit.ly/4myFJjY Credit: Ewelina Oszust

Like our April 2025 Small World calendar featured image, we’d love to be a fly on the wall as you enter your photos and videos for this year’s competition. 🪰 Want to see your own image on next year's Small World calendar? Get your entries in by April 30 ⏳ to be considered!

We're so excited to introduce our newest series, Small World Speaks, where we share stories behind some of the winning images and the storied history of the Nikon Small World competitions as told by those who helped shape it. Dive into the series here: bit.ly/48JOqSQ