Nikon Small World in Motion 2024 winners announced

Nikon has announced the winners of its Nikon Small World in Motion, a prestigious video contest celebrating the beauty and complexity of the microscopic world. This year, the first-place prize was awarded to Dr. Bruno Vellutini of the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics. His stunning video of mitotic waves in the embryo of a fruit fly got him the first prize. But, as always, the contest shares plenty more extraordinary videos for us to admire.

Overall winner – Dr. Bruno Vellutini

Dr. Vellutini’s video offers a captivating glimpse into the dance of cell division and tissue movement that occurs during the early stages of embryonic development. His work sheds light on the genetic pathways shared by humans and other mammals. Other than being captivating to watch, it offers scientific significance. It could have implications for cancer research, birth defects, and the development of new treatments.

“The beauty of basic research in biology is that what we learn in one organism is often applicable to others,” said Dr. Vellutini. “Our research, while focused on evolutionary questions, has broader implications for medical science, specifically rare neurological disorders and limb malformations in humans.”

“Fruit fly embryos are in our homes, developing in our kitchens and our trash bins. I believe the video is particularly impactful because it shows us how these fascinating cellular and tissue dynamics are happening every day, all around us—even in the most mundane living beings.”

To capture this dynamic development, Dr. Vellutini used light sheet microscopy. This technique allows for gentle imaging of live embryos while minimizing potential damage. “The biggest challenges I encountered were in mounting the embryos correctly and optimizing imaging conditions to capture clear, high-quality footage over an extended period,” Dr. Vellutini explained. “Balancing light exposure to avoid harming the samples was crucial.”

Eric Flem, Senior Manager, Communications and CRM at Nikon Instruments, commented:

“For the last 50 years, Nikon Small World has been a leading showcase of cutting-edge microscopy and artistic imaging,” . “As we enter a new era of the competition, we remain committed to highlighting the boundaries of innovation in scientific imaging. Nikon’s dedication to advancing science and art is especially evident in Dr. Vellutini’s winning entry, which stands as a testament to this legacy, capturing a mesmerizing movement within the microscopic world.”

Now in its 14th year, the contest recognizes the top five best videos, as well as honorable mentions. You can watch them below, and see the complete video gallery and more details on the contest’s website.

Top 5

Honorable mentions

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