Just for the hell of it

[evanvine]

Whilst having a mini clearout, I came across my father’s old microscope.
It uses a mirror to provide the light and has single magnification of 100x.
So, having just produced yeast cultures from my latest brew, I thought I’d take a look.
Then I thought, I’ll try photographing through the eye piece.
These are the results.

Pic 1 is from the rinse (boiled and filtered rainwater) I used to get the dregs.

Pic 2 is from the main body of the culture.

Are these yeast cells or am I kidding myself?

 

[Mark1964]

Very interesting Jim can you look at beer as well

 

[evanvine]

Didn't think of it Mark, can't see why not.
I'll may be give it a go! :thumb:
I think 50x may be a better magnification.

 

[jonewer]

Are these yeast cells or am I kidding myself?

Very hard to say. You really need a stain to see cells clearly and differentiate them from air bubbles and other artifcats.

I'd say first photo maybe, second photo almost certainly not.

Do you have some iodine? if so put a small bit in with the sample then let it dry (pass briefly over a flame) then wash with a bit of clear alcohol. Dont burn or cut yourself!

The yeast cells should absorb the iodine and be stained purple. Something like this

Edit - sorry, just noticed your 100x magnification. You wont really be able to see anything a that magnification. Need 400x min to really see yeast. I think the whitelabs photo is taken at 1000x

 

[evanvine]

Thanks for the post jonewer, I thought it was a bit too easy.