The 2026 Nikon Small World in Motion competition has announced its winners, showcasing stunning time-lapse videos captured through microscopes that reveal the hidden dynamics of life at a microscopic scale. The first-place prize went to optical engineer Ning Xu of Tsinghua University in Beijing for a video documenting the abnormal beating of airway cilia in a child with primary ciliary dyskinesia, a rare genetic disorder that affects respiratory function. His footage not only displays intricate cellular motion but also has potential medical applications, helping physicians better understand a condition that impacts roughly one in 7,500 people worldwide. Second place was awarded to Nguyen Nam Nhat of Vietnam for a video featuring a tiny roundworm interacting with a single-celled predator called Dileptus, while third place went to Benedikt Pleyer for footage of jellyfish larvae suspended in water droplets. The competition, which began in 1975 as a photography contest and added a video category in 2011, received 347 entries from 40 countries this year. Judges included scientists, designers, and leaders of scientific organizations who evaluated the artistic and scientific merit of each submission. The winning videos highlight both the beauty and the scientific value of microscopic imaging, from synchronized cell division to the movement of mitochondria and chloroplasts in plant cells. Organizers emphasize that these visualizations not only captivate audiences but also advance understanding of biological processes that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye. The full list of winners and honorable mentions is available on the competition's official website and YouTube channel.

YouTube video by American Physical Society

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