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INTRODUCTION
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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Macroscopic Solutions will be closed from December 10th and will re-open on January 20th. Please be sure to plan ahead and we apologize in advance for the inconvenience.
The primary objective of Macroscopic Solutions has always been to provide the scientific and industrial communities with imaging systems that are superior at preserving focal length, resolution and color information across a wide variety of scientific platforms. For many, the Macropod breaks the long-standing tradition of using microscopes and, as a result, is something people generally need to see in order to understand. With more and more customers pursuing technologies offered by Macroscopic Solutions, we are pleased to announce that we are ready to grant our first STEM Education Award, which will allow students to learn from using our technologies. The STEM Education award has been granted to Danbury High School, where the Macropod will be used by the science and technology departments.
- Mark R. Smith
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NEWS
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STEM Education Award
The STEM Education Award is a competitive program hosted by Macroscopic Solutions, which allows high schools and non profits to acquire the Macropod imaging system without cost. Susan Margolis of Danbury High School will be the first recipient of the STEM Education Award and intends to deploy the Macropod in science and technology classes from grades 9-12.
“I was in high school when I started using this technology and it’s only because I had the fortune of living next to a scientist. Realistically, there isn’t a kid that was my age who could afford this equipment and I want to be able to give them this privilege. The technology changed my perspective on life and my understanding of the world I live in. If every kid had the opportunity to simply feel what I felt when I was their age, then I am certain it will leave an impression that will stay with them forever. It’s one thing to look at your own thumbprint regularly, and it’s another to see a close up on the internet, but to capture a close-up of your own thumbprint in real-time leaves a feeling of shock and surprise that’s hard to shake. Pretty soon you’ll become curious about almost everything and, to me, that’s the essence of being a scientist.”
- Mark R Smith
My Thumbprint
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PRODUCTS |
Quality and Resolution
There are many scientific instruments that claim to reach some particular level that makes the device more attractive to consumers. For example, Macroscopic Solutions has encountered several microscopes that claim 800x magnification and resolving powers down to 10 nanometers! It’s awesome if it’s true; but, is it? More importantly, how do you know the instrument can actually perform as specified? It’s even common for the staff at Macroscopic Solutions to be handed pictures showing falsely calibrated scalebars and it begs the question… “are these scalebars a result of human error or human marketing?” In either case, it’s certainly not good for science. That’s why Macroscopic Solutions and its commitment to good science produced images of a 100 micron div. scale to show; 1) what the magnification looks like at 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 10x, 20x, 50x, and 100x, and; 2) the true capabilities and limits of the Macropod Pro systems.
It’s always important to remember the visible light spectrum when ordering new optical equipment. It’s the first logical test of validating the systems true capabilities. For example, the wavelengths of visible light range from about 390 to 700 nm, which means that cameras and optics that rely on light wouldn’t theoretically be able to produce images of anything smaller. Therefore, technologies that utilize smaller particles such as electrons and x-rays are better at resolving smaller details; however, they lose the ability to reproduce color because they are no longer dependent on light from the visible spectrum. To put this into perspective, 100x magnification will resolve 0.4 microns or 400 nanometers of information. That is, if you were to take a 21 megapixel picture using a 100x objective then the distance between one pixel to the next would be precisely 400 nanometers. Remember this the next time someone tells you, this is a 300x image showing…..”
Images captured at 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 10x, 20x, 50x, and 100x of a 100 micron div,. 5 mm scalebar. |
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Diffusers
For many of us involved in Macro Photography, light diffusion is the number one most important thing to learn and is considered quite an advanced skill to master. Luckily though, Macroscopic Solutions has just turned light diffusion into a 10-minute course in Macrophotography 101. Check out our new light diffuser! Not sure if they will fit? Then email products@macroscopicsolutions.com and we will custom design a diffusor that meets your specifications! |
Image of MT-24 EX Twin-Lite Flash Diffuser
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Image of MP-E 65mm 1-5x Flash Diffuser
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Image of 10-100x M Plan APO Mitutoyo Diffuser |
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NOTABLE MACROPOD IMAGES
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The Macropod’s images are sometimes considered a mixture of science and art. This is because a scientific instrument is used to achieve an artistic end that is significant for discovery, observation and education. The images appease the senses and document high quality data of subjects that are associated with time and position.
Macroscopic Solutions releases many images daily and the some of our most noteworthy are shown below.
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Mud Wasp, Tolland CT |
Fruit Fly, Tolland CT
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Red Ant, Tolland CT
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Autumn Leaf changing colors, Tolland CT
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Crane Fly, Tolland CT
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EVENTS AND CONFERENCES
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November 1-4, 2015 – Geological Society of America
Macroscopic Solutions is exhibiting at booth number 424 from Sunday until Wednesday. Imaging services will be provided on site. Products on display will be the Petrographic Analyzer, Petrographic Macropod and Macropod Pro with Micro Kit.
Baltimore, MD - More Information |
November 14-15, 2015 – Entomological Collections Network
Macroscopic Solutions is a sponsor of ECN 2015 and will be exhibiting on Saturday and Sunday. Imaging services will be provided on site. Products on display will be the Macropod Pro with Micro Kit.
Minneapolis, MN – More Information |
November 15-18, 2015 – Entomological Society of America
Macroscopic Solutions is exhibiting at booth number 520 from Sunday until Wednesday. Imaging services will be provided on site. Products on display will be the Macropod Pro with Micro Kit.
Minneapolis, MN – More Information
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**FREE IMAGING SERVICES**
By showing this newsletter at these events, you will receive one free high-resolution image of your specimen on-site AND you will be entered for a chance to win $250 worth of Macroscopic Solutions imaging services. Click Here to read more about imaging services. |
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