The intestine is like the TARDIS of organs: its surface area is bigger on the inside. Countless villi protrude inward from the intestinal lining, facilitating the absorption of nutrients during the digestive process. Photographer Satu Paavonsalo teamed up with Sinem Karaman, a vascular biologist at the University of Helsinki, to photograph the immense network of blood vessels responsible for this digestive function. Using confocal microscopy, the image features a 10X view of the submucosa (purple) and villi (blue gradient) from mouse intestines. The image took 3rd place at the 2022 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition.
Science Snapshot: No Guts, No Glory
This image took 3rd place at the 2022 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition.
Written byLisa Winter
Lisa Winter became social media editor for The Scientist in 2017. In addition to her duties on social media platforms, she also pens obituaries for the website. She graduated from Arizona State University, where she studied genetics, cell, and developmental biology.
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Image credit:Satu Paavonsalo and Sinem Karaman, courtesy of Nikon
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Meet the Author
Lisa joined The Scientist in 2017. As social media editor, some of her duties include creating content, managing interactions, and developing strategies for the brand’s social media presence. She also contributes to the News & Opinion section of the website. Lisa holds a degree in Biological Sciences with a concentration in genetics, cell, and developmental biology from Arizona State University and has worked in science communication since 2012.
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