Lactose crystals

Lactose crystals under the microscope and in polarized light. 

Lactose (magnification 80x).

Lactose (magnification 80x).

The Alps from the sky

Last week I flew over the Western Alps and had this magnificent view. The area is somewhere on the German-Austrian border.

Linked with Skywatch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel.

Lead acetate

Lead(II) acetate crystals under the microscope and in polarized light. Lead(II) acetate is also known as lead sugar or salt of saturn. In ancient times it was used as sweetener and produced lead poisoning in ancient cultures.

Lead(II) acetate (magnification 80x).

Lead(II) acetate (magnification 80x).

Curious

A Red Squirrel observing my activities. 

Red Squirrel

Cane sugar under the microscope

Crystals of sugar made from sugarcane under the microscope and in polarized light (magnification 100x). 

Sugar under the microscope.

Sugar under the microscope.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Common Shellducks

Common Shellducks are uncommon in Southern Germany. I saw this group some days ago in the Brombachsee. There were also some Egyptian Geese, a invasive species in the area. On the Altmühlsee was a large flock of Black-headed Gulls and a pair of Yellow-legged Gulls.   

Black-headed Gulls and a pair of Yellow-legged Gulls.

Common Shellducks.

Common Shellducks.

Egyptian Geese.

Sodium aluminate

Crystals of sodium aluminate under the microscope and in polarized light. 

Sodium aluminate (magnification 80x).

Monosodium Glutamate

Monosodium Glutamate under the microscope and in polarized light (magnification 80x). Monosodium Glutamate is used as food additive (E 621). It is water soluble and forms a network of small, elongated crystals.

Monosodium Glutamate

Monosodium Glutamate under the microscope.

Sky view in infrared

A infrared photo of an industrial sky in the winter.