Brownian Motion inside Diatom 1000x

The Diatom and surrounding Cyanobacteria were from Heron's Head Park Salt Marsh, San Francisco Bay. Magnification was 1,000x under Hoffman Modulation Contrast optics. Camera was a Nikon Coolpix 885 at 3x zoom. The particles inside the Diatom exhibit Brownian Motion [see "Brownian Motion" Wikipedia for details]. It is not clear what the particles may have been. I doubt they were bacteria. It is more likely that each particle was either a mycelle or a vesicle [see Wikipedia for both terms]. Life is, indeed, wondrous to behold. What "miracle" could compare with this very common biological and physical event? [see Wikipedia for "miracle".]

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• science
• ecology
• Microscopy
• Diatom
• Brownian
• Motion

[WLanier]

NOTES: The Brownian motion is that of small particles inside the Diatom. The Diatom is dead. The particles might be bacteria, might be other particles. Some Diatoms, when alive, do move - the motor for this motion is not understood. Diatoms do not have cilia. Diatoms belong to the algae, but many algae do move.

[eddy85br]

This are the movement of chloroplasts in the cytoplasm of the Diatom cell, isn't it?

[WLanier]

Probably not. Chloroplasts are rather large organelles. See full description.

[xtearsofpearlsx]

Fascinating!

[fractalzooms]

so cool!!! thanks for posting

[KIINZEY]

that is not brownian motion. there is too much organization. the motion can be explained by intracellular processes

[ZachreyCA]

3) Is the video playing at normal speed? If so, the particles are moving around awfully fast for cytoplasmic streaming.

[ZachreyCA]

Thank you for making and posting this fascinating video. I have several questions:

1) How do you know that the diatom is dead? The movement of particles inside is suggestive of cytoplasmic streaming.

2) Does the light source have an IR (infrared) blocking filter on it? If not and if the diatom is dead, and the diatom cell wall is rigid, the motion might be convective due to the heating effect of the light illuminating the field of view.

[robdiebob]

so interesting!!!!!

I'm lovin it

[BOBAH4iK]

what was the objective of your microscope?

what is the size of the particles?

Do you know if Brownian motion happenz in glycerol too?? Thank you

[BANGBANGllll]

..l..

[scaplins]

the movement is most likely the beating of cilia. This organism is far to large to be affected by brownian motion.

[RyanatorML2000]

Is the diatom dead? Just another question: Do diatoms move by themselves; are there any that do not move by their own will? I've seen diatoms through my microscope but can't decide whether they are carcasses or simply cannot move as I understand they are algae.