Adolfo Sánchez-Blanco, Ph.D

When you drop chia seeds into water, something amazing happens: each seed swells and forms a slimy, jelly-like coating. This gooey layer is called mucilage, and it's made mostly of soluble fiber. . As water is absorbed, the surface of the seed releases polysaccharides (complex sugars), which interact with the water to form a thick, gel-like substance. Thanks to this, chia seeds can absorb up to 10–12 times their weight in liquid. . The production of mucilage is an evolutionary adaptation that improves germination in dry climates. By forming a gel, the seeds retain moisture around themselves, creating a hydrated microenvironment that increases their chances of successful germination. . When it comes to eating chia seeds, it's not just about their impressive nutrient profile. The mucilage itself is what makes them especially beneficial for digestion and gut health. The gel slows the movement of food through the digestive tract, helping to stabilize blood sugar levels and promote a longer-lasting feeling of fullness. It also acts as a prebiotic, feeding beneficial gut bacteria and supporting a healthy microbiome. This natural, water-loving gel can regulate bowel movements, reduce blood sugar spikes, and support hydration. All thanks to the soluble fiber in chia mucilage! . In the first part of the video, I use water to demonstrate the mucilage production process. In the second part, I use methylene blue to better visualize the release of mucilage from the chia seeds. . By the way, I can’t believe how beautiful chia seeds are under the microscope! . For this video I used a Leica ZOOM 200 stereoscope and an Olympus BX41 microscope at up to 100X magnification. #microscopy #microscope #chiaseeds #drbioforever

It’s amazing how uniform beach sand looks, yet when you view it under a microscope you can see so many other colors. Looking at beach sand under the microscope is like looking at a bunch of microscopic jewels. It’s so mesmerizing! Sand grains under the microscope are so beautiful. . The black sand at the start of the video is mostly composed of volcanic materials. This is because the island where I recorded this video (La Palma, Spain) is of volcanic origin. When lava from a volcanic eruption gets in contact with the ocean, it cools rapidly and breaks into small fragments. Over time, waves will erode these lava fragments into tiny particles, forming black sand. Although the sand looks very dark, under the microscope you can see grains of other colors. This is due to the presence of other minerals that ocean waves and wind have mixed in with the volcanic sand. . The sand grains in the second beach shown in the video (Asturias, Spain) were more colorful and included bits of shells and calcium carbonate skeletons. This beach sand is mainly composed of quartz and calcium carbonate from shell fragments. . The sand grains from the Aveiro, Portugal beach were quite homogeneous in color and shape. These sand grains looked like microscopic asteroids and are mostly composed of fine to medium quartz grains originating from the erosion of inland rocks. . The light-colored sand from the last beach in the video is also mostly composed of quartz grains. These tiny bits of quartz usually come from inland granite rocks that have been eroded and carried to the coast by rivers. While researching the sand composition of the beach where I took this sample, I found that the other sand grain colors seem to be due to minerals such as feldspar, mica, magnetite, garnet, etc. . These are the names of the beaches portrayed in the video: 1. Playa de Charco Verde in La Palma, Canary Islands (Spain). 2. Playa de cuevas del mar, Asturias (Spain). 3. Praia de São Jacinto, Aveiro (Portugal). 4. South Cape Beach State Park, Cape Cod, Massachusetts (USA). . For this video, I used a Leica ZOOM 200 stereoscope and an Olympus BX41 microscope at up to 100X magnification. #microscopy #microscope #beachsand #volcanicsand #drbioforever

The arrangement of cells that compose a pine tree is extraordinarily beautiful. A cellular masterpiece put together by Evolution/Natural selection! . Isn’t it amazing that every time you look at a pine tree, internally, at the microscopic level, this is what it looks like? . Although the stem cross section is not labeled, if you look closely you can see the cells of the Pith, Xylem, Phloem, Medullary rays, Cambium, Cortex, Cork cambium… . In the second part of the video, what you see under the microscope is the cross section of pine leaves. The pine tree leaves (needles) are also incredibly pretty. At higher magnification, you can also see the amazing cellular arrangement that makes up a single pine leaf. . Biology is incredible! . For this video I used a Leica ZOOM 200 stereoscope and an Olympus BX41 microscope at up to 400x magnification. #naturalpatterns #artinnature #microscopy #microscope #plantbiology #pinetree #pinestem #pineleaf #drbioforever

Warning: you aren’t going to get rid of the dandelions in your lawn anytime soon! Dandelions are amazingly well adapted to the suburban environment of lawns. Their leaves are very low to the ground, so they can easily escape being cut by lawn mowers. Their roots are very deep, so they can still get the water and nutrients they need even when the top of the plant is cut off. If this wasn’t enough, dandelions produce a lot of seeds, and these spread quickly and easily! So stop getting frustrated trying to get rid of dandelions and instead embrace how pretty they are ;) . In the first part of the video, what you see is the stigma of one of the many florets within a dandelion flower. You can also see that it is completely coated with pollen grains. The stigma is the part of the flower that the pollen grains attach to when pollination happens. . In the first part of the video, what you see is the dandelion fruits. Yes, I meant to say dandelion fruits! All those flying things are the dandelion fruits being dispersed by the wind thanks to modified sepals (the parachute part). A single seed is inside each fruit. This type of fruit is called Achene. The thing that is very very cool is that the dandelion fruits preserve their shape after immersion in water! . For these videos I used an Olympus CX31 microscope and up to 400x magnification. #microscopy #microscope #plantbiology #dandelions #artinnature #drbioforever

The small intestine is a long tube where most of the digestion and nutrient absorption takes place. It is divided into 3 regions: duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Each of these regions has specialized functions and unique histological features. These 3 parts of the small intestine share common tissue layers (mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and serosa). However, if you observe these tissues closely, you can see differences in glandular tissue, villi structure, and immune features, which reflect their specific roles. . The duodenum plays an amazingly important role in coordinating digestion. As the first part of the small intestine, it receives partially digested food from the stomach in small amounts, along with bile from the gallbladder (that was produced in the liver) and buffers and digestive enzymes from the pancreas. These secretions work together to neutralize stomach acid, break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, and prepare nutrients for absorption further along the intestine. . Amazingly, the duodenum also releases hormones, which help regulate these secretions and ensure that digestion proceeds efficiently. This carefully timed coordination makes the duodenum a key control center for the digestive process. . What’s amazing is that the duodenum doesn’t just passively receive food. It acts like a control center for digestion. It uses neural connections and releases hormones that signal the pancreas and gallbladder to deliver just the right amount of enzymes and bile at the right time, and it even tells the stomach when to release more chyme! . The duodenum has histological features that can’t be seen in other parts of the small intestine. For example, the Brunner’s glands in the submucosa, which secrete alkaline mucus that helps neutralize the stomach acid entering with the chyme. Also, the villi are broad and leaf-shaped, and there are fewer goblet cells compared to the rest of the small intestine. . Histology is amazing and the human body is incredible! . #microscopy #microscope #physiology #smallintestine #duodenum #drbioforever

The cellular arrangement of plant tissues is incredibly beautiful! . Which one do you think is the prettiest? 1) 2) 3) or 4)? . 1) If you look closely at the Gingko branch stem, you can see the cells of the Pith, Xylem, Phloem, Medullary rays, Cambium, Cortex, Cork cambium… . 2) The ring pattern that you see is formed by the cells that make the vascular tissue (xylem and phloem) of the maple seedling stem. The cells in the center of the stem are the pith cells. The thick outer layer of cells that surround the vascular tissue are the cortex cells. Maple trees are dicot plants; thus, the vascular tissue bundles in the stem are arranged in the shape of a ring. . 3) Broccoli is also a dicot angiosperm plant. That means that the vascular tissue of this plant also forms a ring-like structure around the middle of the stem. The outermost layer is the epidermis. This layer of cells protects the stem and prevents water loss. Underneath the epidermis is the cortex, which is composed of elongated cells that store water and nutrients. The next layer is the vascular tissue, which is made up of xylem and phloem cells that transport water, nutrients, and sugars throughout the stem. Finally, in the very center of the stem there is the pith, which is made up of packed cells that look like bubbles. . 4) Asparagus is a monocot plant; thus, the asparagus vascular tissue is organized in bundles and these bundles are scattered throughout the plant stem. The patterns that you see in the video are formed by the cells that make the vascular tissue (xylem and phloem) of the asparagus stem, as well as the cells that surround the vascular tissue (pith cells). The vascular system transports water and nutrients. . Biology is amazing!! And yes, every time we eat a plant, we eat millions and millions of plant cells that form incredibly beautiful patterns like the ones you saw in this video! . For this video I used an Olympus CX31 microscope at up to 400x magnification. #ginkgo #mapletree #art #artinnature #microscopy #microscope #plantbiology #broccoli #asparagus #drbioforever

What you saw in this video is the epidermal cells of watermelon rind, as well as the epidermal cells of lemon and tomato peel under the microscope! . The shape of all these epidermal cells is incredibly beautiful. Their cell walls help create the regular patterns seen in the video. The epidermal cells are tightly packed to provide a protective barrier to the rest of the fruit. Yes, tomatoes are a fruit (botanically speaking tomatoes are considered berries). . By the way, embedded in the epidermal tissue, you can also see stomata. Stomata can be present in other parts of the plant (not just in the leaves!). Stomata are the pores that plants use to take up CO2 and to release O2. In other words, stomata are the pores that plants use to “breathe”. . Don’t you think that the stoma in the lemon peel part of the video looks like the eye of a lizard-like creature? . In case you are wondering, the liquid I used when preparing the samples is distilled water. Distilled water helps maintain the tonicity of the cells in the sample. The water and the cover slip will also enhance the image by avoiding awkward light reflections… . For this video I used an Olympus CX31 microscope at up to 400X magnification. #microscopy #microscope #plantbiology #artinnature #drbioforever

Whether it’s sipping nectar or stealing blood, these tiny creatures have evolved mouthparts that are just incredible. . In the first part of the video, you can see the amazing tongue (glossa) that bumblebees have. Their hairy tongue is adapted to get soaked with as much liquid as possible every time that they dip it into a liquid such as nectar. I love how the bumblebee moves the tongue out to soak it with nutritious liquid and then retracts it to bring the goodies into its mouth. . The second part of the video shows the super-specialized mouthpart that ticks use to attach themselves to the skin of an animal. You can hate them all you want, but ticks are incredible animals that are amazingly well adapted to make a living sucking the blood of bigger animals. First, ticks use their small but sharp chelicerae as blades to cut through the animal’s skin (the tick in the reel had retracted them so they are not very easy to see). Once the chelicerae make a tiny cut in the animal’s skin, the tick will push the hypostome into the perforated skin. Because the hypostome is like a barbed harpoon, once the hypostome is inside the skin, the tick gets perfectly attached to the skin and if you try to remove it by pulling, the mouth parts will break off and remain in the skin (this will lead to an infection). Once it gets attached to the skin, the tick will start feeding on the animal’s blood. Incredibly, the saliva of the tick contains compounds that will block the animal’s inflammation and coagulation responses. This will let the tick feed without the animal noticing anything at all! . Biology is amazing!! . For this video I used a Leica ZOOM 200 stereoscope and an Olympus CX31 microscope at up to 200x magnification. #microscopy #microscope #bumblebee #glossa #bumblebeetongue #ticks #hypostome #drbioforever

Galls are one of the most amazing examples of co-evolution between species. Galls are abnormal growths on plant leaves, stems, twigs… which are created by the plant in response to the presence of an insect (some galls are caused by other organisms but the galls in this video are caused by insects). . Everything starts when a particular insect lays its egg/s inside the plant tissue. The insect introduces chemicals that disrupt the plant’s normal growth and forces the plant to develop a gall (a plant structure that provides shelter and nutrition for the developing insect larva). . Each insect species tends to induce a specific type of gall on a specific host plant. This is the result of a long co-evolutionary process between the insect and the plant. Over millions of years, the insect has evolved the ability to manipulate the plant development in its favor to make the plant create a house (the gall) that is used as a shelter and food source for its larva. In parallel, the plant has evolved ways to compartmentalize the insect’s presence, limiting potential damage to the rest of the plant. . The result of this co-evolutionary process is a complex interaction that is neither entirely parasitic nor fully cooperative. Galls are an incredible example of how evolution can deeply connect the lives of very different organisms. . The aphid in the Sumac tree gall is called Melaphis rhois. The oak apple gall is produced by a wasp from the Cynipidae family. The wool sower gall is produced by a wasp called Callirhytis seminator. . For this video I used a Leica ZOOM 200 stereoscope and an Olympus BX41 microscope at up to 200x magnification #microscopy #microscope #plantbiology #plantgalls #drbioforever