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.
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.
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.
✨ 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 →
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.
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 briefNew every morning, and the back catalogue is archived by date.
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.