● Covered by 2 sources · 2 reportsLow impact2 neutral
Nikon Small World in Motion video contest won by Chinese optical engineer
Key points
- Ning Xu won Nikon's Small World in Motion contest.
- His video showed abnormal cilia in a child with primary ciliary dyskinesia.
- The competition showcases microscopy through video.
- 346 entries from 40 countries participated.
- Nikon is re-evaluating the winning entry.
- Scientists alleged the image was AI-generated.
- The contest has run annually for 15 years.
- Ning Xu is a researcher at Tsinghua University in China.
- Xu used AI for image processing.
- Xu used AI to distinguish and visualize features in reconstructed grayscale images.
Competition Winner Announced
Ning Xu, an optical engineer from Tsinghua University in Beijing, has won the Nikon Small World in Motion competition. Xu's winning entry was a super-resolution video depicting the abnormal beating of cilia in the airways of a child diagnosed with a rare genetic respiratory disorder.
About the Competition
The Small World in Motion competition, established in 2011, is a video-focused offshoot of Nikon’s Small World Photomicrography Competition, which began in 1974. Both contests aim to highlight the intricate details and beauty observable through a light microscope, with the video competition specifically utilizing advancements in photovideography and time-lapse imaging.
Focus on Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia
The subject of Xu's winning video, primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), is a genetic condition affecting the cilia, which are tiny, hair-like structures found in areas like the lungs. In healthy individuals, cilia move in a wave-like motion to clear irritants such as germs, mucus, and dust. In those with PCD, cilia may be malformed, absent, or move abnormally, leading to a buildup of irritants and recurrent respiratory infections.
Updates
- Nikon is re-evaluating the winning entry.
- Scientists alleged the image was AI-generated.
- The contest has run annually for 15 years.
- Ning Xu is a researcher at Tsinghua University in China.
- Xu used AI for image processing.
- Xu used AI to distinguish and visualize features in reconstructed grayscale images.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
The daily brief
One email each morning: the day's tech stories, clustered across outlets and summarized. No account needed.
One email a day. Unsubscribe in one click, any time.
Today's brief
Spend a few minutes, get the whole day. Every topic's top stories in one hands-free rundown — listen, watch, or read the transcript.
▶ Play today's brief
New every morning, and the back catalogue is archived by date.
How outlets covered it
Nikon is re-evaluating the winning entry of its Small World In Motion contest after scientists alleged the image was AI-generated. The winner, Dr. Ning Xu, denies breaking rules but confirmed using AI for image processing, leading to questions about the integrity of scientific photography competitions.
Ning Xu of Tsinghua University won Nikon's Small World in Motion competition for his super-resolution video of abnormal cilia beating in a child with a rare respiratory disorder. The competition highlights microscopy through video, showcasing biological complexity.