How to Identify Microbes

When there are over one trillion species, it can be hard to determine what you're looking at on your microscope. Thankfully we've got some helpful tips for you!

Follow Journey to the Microcosmos:

More from Jam’s Germs:

Hosted by Hank Green:

Music by Andrew Huang:

Journey to the Microcosmos is a Complexly production.

SOURCES:

[JamsGerms]

When I was a child, Pokemon was a BIG thing and now I am almost 30 years old and feeling like a Pokemon trainer; I gotta catch them all and add to our collection! 😂

[Nobody_Special]

Kinda wish the ad said, "single-celled singles in your area", with a pic of a stentor taking a mirror selfie or some such. :)

[vykx]

This really has grown to be one of my most favourite channels. It's so calming and soothing, from the narration to the music and even the very video of microbes mulling about. I always look forward to watching more.

[ChaosMagnet]

This has become my favourite channel on YouTube. Thanks, James, Hank, and everyone else who toils away to bring us such amazing images from our unseen reality. You get nowhere near the recognition you deserve. This is what should be on TV, instead of ‘reality television’ trash and Faux News. If it was, I’d actually start watching TV again.

[simone]

I've always been fascinated by science, but I was a liberal arts student in college. In high school, our biology class didn't encompass this stuff. Thankfully, I had an earth science subject for two semesters in college which introduced me to the microcosmos. Those were one of the very best times of my college life. The volvox was my most favourite thing to hunt under the microscope. Anyway, thank you for this fascinating video sharing tips on how to determine microbes.

[megaforse]

I saw the smaller tardigrade and said, "oh look at the little tardigrade!" Then remembered both tardigrades were magnified 200x.

[TidBitOf]

As a student of science and a hobbyist of microscopes I have the utmost respect for James to dedicate this amount of work. Thank you Microcosmos for keeping my interest alive.

[larryneubecker]

I have looked everywhere for a video, books or images that will tell me what micro organisms I'm looking at under my microscopes. This is the best one yet!

[jonsey]

Immeasurable thanks to James, Hank and all of the Patrions. You make this all possible and this struggling parent REALLY appreciates your generous gift to the whole world. You should be very proud.

[justlaura]

I watch your videos when I’m having a panic attack, or after. It always helps me to calm down and I can learn something new. Thank you

[noeldenever]

Dear James Weiss,
Thank you, for all the footage of these magnificent critters. Your labor of love has always been the bright point of my Tuesday. Cheers, mate.

[Trowa]

My siblings and I pitched on a microscope for my mother for xmas, partly inspired by this series. However, it was also partly inspired by a geology course I took once where we identified minerals in thin sections with polarized light. Was just wondering if you'd ever consider doing a mini mini series on them or even a video? Super interesting and beautiful stuff.

[chronikuad]

Thanks James and everyone else involved in this channel

[beeestuff]

What's it like to record the voice overs.

I'm imagining you sitting over your microphone, looking at a picture of your grandma and trying to explain it to her.

I love it. It's so peaceful and nice ^^

[Bleenderhead]

That crinkly rotifer at 4:41 is stunningly captured. It seems to have depth while still being in focus, so that you can see the folds of its kind of brittle seeming skin.

[miloism]

Cheers to identifying biology! Its part of the reason I love botany and Mycology, finding the name is like solving a mystery.

[mysteepulcine]

Amusingly, the very first microbe you showed was one that I unexpectedly stumbled upon in botany class. It was not meant to be in the sample, and my professor could not identify it beyond positing that it was an animal. Now I have a slightly more specific name. So thanks for your help with a years old mystery.

[Halflife-ym]

I bought a beginner microscope because I love to watch your videos.

[rotifer]

*No don't! You're exposing all my hiding spots!*

[loishawkey]

A labor of love ...and so much skill, experience and passion...