Summer Splash Coasters 4-Pack

Cumin, mustard and coriander seeds, along with thyme leaves and flowers. Cumin is a key component in curry and chilli powders, and coriander is often used in Spanish, Mexican, Latin and Indian cuisines. Mustard is an important spice in many regional foods. Thyme is a Mediterranean herb with dietary, medicinal and ornamental uses. Extreme macro images obtained by stereomicroscopy, a type of optical microscope designed for low magnification observation       
Images by John Chapman

Surface of a salmon scale. The skin of most fish is covered with these protective scales, which can also provide effective camouflage through reflection and coloration, as well as possible hydrodynamic advantages. Imaged with light microscopy, using differential interference contrast
Image by John Chapman

Crystals formed from an aqueous mixture of oxalic acid and rhamnose. Oxalic acid occurs naturally in many foods, and is named after wood-sorrel (Oxalis), from which it was first isolated. Rhamnose is a naturally occurring sugar, and can be isolated from the buckthorn plant (Rhamnus). Imaged with polarized light microscopy
Images by John Chapman

Mixed set of four coasters showing various crystals, formed from aqueous solutions of either oxalic acid, sodium oxalate or a mixture of oxalic acid and xylose. Oxalic acid occurs naturally in many foods, and is named after wood-sorrel (Oxalis), from which it was first isolated. Sodium oxalate is the sodium salt of oxalic acid, while xylose is a sugar that was first isolated from wood, and is named after the Greek word for wood, xylon. Imaged with polarized light microscopy
Images by John Chapman