The Colors of the Microcosmos

We see the colors of the microcosmos every single week, but let's stop and ask why our some microbes are bright green, while others are a golden brown.

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Hosted by Hank Green:

Music by Andrew Huang:

Journey to the Microcosmos is a Complexly production.

Sources:

[TheRogueWolf]

I can't help but imagine the little _Synura_ at 4:29 going as they roll along.

[gubzs]

I appreciate that you guys post on Monday so much. You make an ordinarily stressful day that microcosmic amount better.

[limiv]

I may not be green, but I too turn red when exposed to UV

[LegoCookieDoggie]

"It lives in a graveyard birdbath" is the most metal sounding thing

[mikerphone.]

Just another day in the office,
hanging out at the cemetery,
collecting microbial samples from the ornate birdbaths...

[borlani]

I just stumbled across these just now. I'm 65, and would LOVE to have had these to watch at school, instead of just copying line drawings from books.

[wizzardofpaws]

This is definitely one of my top five favorite channels. I really look forward to every video

[NewMessage]

"Oooo... Look at that one.. there, by the edge.."
"Which one? What color is it?"
"Incidental."
* heavy sigh *

[MattBohnhoff]

My daughter got a digital microscope for her birthday and, inspired by this channel, we've enjoyed searching for tiny life in samples from our chickens' water bowl (which is filthy). Today we found rotifers (I think).

It would be a very different video but would you consider giving us a behind the scenes look? The equipment that you use, how to collect specimens from soil vs water, how to prepare a slide, etc?

[tsopmocful]

Thank you for contributing so wonderfully towards our understanding that we live in a microbial world, where most of life's history was microscopic, where most life on Earth today is still microscopic, and where all the macroscopic lifeforms we normally see are just huge colonies of cooperating microbes.

Thank you too for mentioning how we didn't even know all that until very recently, as we often take that for granted, with most of the time us rarely appreciating the implications of that for both us and how we act towards the rest of the living world.

[connieblack]

I love Calm Hank. Considering it's Pizzamas, I imagine the households Green are anything but calm at the moment.

[zest]

its honestly a highlight of my week to watch these videos before i fall asleep. Its so cool to me that theres a whole world full of life ive never seen before. These little creatures have had many millions of years to develop all around the world and to see this much diversity inside of a drop of pond water is really freaking neat. Never knew id love something like this as much as I do. keep inspiring us and dftba

[spiercephotography]

Ohhhh, I love the music on this one!

As a photographer (not of the microcosmos) I love this video! Very fascinating.

[marcantoinechateauvert]

I never really thought about the color of micro-organisms. I'm glad you chose to cover the topic for us. Excellent video!

[Nathanfx]

Would you mind posting the equipment you use to record this footage? I've been looking at microscopes to buy since you reignited my curiosity.

[djoseph]

Absolutely gorgeous. How fortunate we all are to live when for the very first time we are able to see images like these.

[beautyforashes]

1:14 This Uroleptus is kind of pretty in it's own way, like a squishy little rainbow that zooms all around.

[nesirsitsir]

This world never ceases to amaze me.
I'm referring to the 3 people who disliked this video.

[proudsnowtiger]

Love the aesthetic that underlies these journeys, Hope it pays off.

[fangugel]

Every aspect of the videos is well done. The writing is beautiful. I can’t get enough of this.