This is an SEM scan of the mouth of another species of the brittle star Ophiothrix spiculata. The mouths of brittle stars are located beneath the animal’s central disk and are composed of five jaws. The teeth at the center of its mouth form a specialized, funnel-shaped structure used to compact mouthfuls of its microscopic food.
What is an electron microscope, and how does it work? How is it different from a regular (light) microscope? And why do we need one at the Natural History Museum? Join Dr. Jody Martin, Associate Vice President for Research, on a tour of "the very very small" - from tiny marine invertebrates to the heads of insects to snowflakes and pollen grains and more - to learn about the Museum's brand new electron microscope and how it will be used in research, education, and exhibits!
Filmed: Wednesday, June 23, 2021