First experiments w/beta-alanine crystals grown on microscope slides. Alanine is one of the 20 amino acids our cells use to construct proteins, which include antibodies and enzymes like insulin. What galaxy do these alanine wormholes lead to? #microscapes #scicomm #SciArtSunday

A couple of little gems (each about the diameter of a sesame seed) of sugar recrystallized from ethanol solution onto microscope slide. Polarized light interacting with multilayers like filo pastry gift us with some color wonders.

One of my faves from a scope session with stevia extract + ascorbic acid recrystallized from solution in @AbsolutUS vodka, which doubles for me as solvent for the arts. Stevia, a Chrysanthemum-family plant, contains super-sweet compounds in the glycoside family. @SweetLeafStevia

The variety of forms dissolved vitamin C assumes as it recrystallizes from rum (a diluted-alcohol solvent that tastes great) is eye-popping. Got these & more from a microscopy session this weekend.@BACARDI @DiplomaticoRum @mountgayrum @TotalWine @rhumbarbancourt @DiplomaticoRum

This weekend, I did a microscope run with crystals of ascorbic acid (vitamin c, C6H8O6) by dissolving the vitamin in @BACARDI rum, a 40% alcohol solution, and recrystallizing this everyday chemical onto a slide. This is one image of an astonishing harvest. @thesciartcenter

Two more from series that delivered crystalline leaves from an otherworldly autumn. What you see is ascorbic acid and table sugar, recrystallized/solidified from a H2O onto a microscope slide, then scanned/imaged w/polarized light. @thesciartcenter @dominosugar @MoreToSugar

A typically splendid work of crystal art by @Masterpnside. Here is what Christopher King harvested from a crystallized mix of three amino acids, including taurine, which makers of @redbull and other energy- drink mixologists, add to their products.

Sugar Sunday Series. Glucose recrystallized on slide from ethanol solution and aged about 7 days, then viewed with polarized light using an @Am_Scope microscope. Each scan of a slide is akin to flying over a magnificent landscape in a plane. Click on pix for fuller views.