Microscopic views : Little Planets

After seeing my latest microscopic images from the Scoby sheet with Methylene Blue I noticed I have a significant amount of images with a specific pattern. My first encounter with a Scoby was with a circular little mat. I'm wondering if this is why I enjoyed this patterns. 

In a way I see them as little planets. Thousands of organisms building something together.

Since people are brewing Kombucha around the world there is evidence that the environment in which the kombucha grows diversifies the microorganisms crating the Bacterial pellicle.

 Alan Marsh and colleagues attempts to broadly define the typical community within kombucha in this this paper 

Scoby under the microscope part 2

 Finally made it to Genspace for a workshop. The session was titled : Tools of trade: Microscopies.

It was interesting to see the different types of Microscopes the workflow.

Wet and Dry mounts, solutions to enhance visibility, etc.

I brought the the colorful Scoby and added Methylene Blue, the results are mesmerizing. I took the photos with my phone.

Sample

What is Methylene  Blue?

Methylene blue is an organic chloride salt having 3,7-bis(dimethylamino)phenothiazin-5-ium as the counterion. A commonly used dye that also exhibits antioxidant, antimalarial, antidepressant and cardioprotective properties. It has a role as an EC 1.4.Methylene Blue oral is used to treat methemoglobinemia and urinary tract infections. Methylene Blue is also used as a dye or staining agent to make certain body fluids and tissues easier to view during surgery or on an x-ray or other diagnostic exam. 
***It may kill microorganisms if you attempt to use is under a microscope make sure it doesnt' affect your living agent.

The nikon diaphot 300 was used for the image on the left.

Celestron images below.

Food Coloring on Bacterial Celulose

June 16 

Using the colorful scoby as a base I added some blue dyes. I'm really curious about the dry result.

RESULT:

June 22

The food dye is super strong and the scoby absorb it really well. Didn't left any residue on my fingers.

Colorful Scoby - with Butterfly Pea Flower - New tea recipe extra caffeine

 June 8th

Butterfly Pea Flower tea is vibrant indigo.  I'm hoping the biofilm will grow in the same color. For some reason the previous the bacterial cellulose has not growing very fast. Since this tea is caffeine free I decided to as some instant coffee to see if this will help. I noticed that the higher level of caffeine makes healthier biofilm.

I'm using the the old scoby since it has given me great results so I'm hoping to see some purple ish bacterial cellulose.  Aside from the blue tea I have added a mix of English breakfast sweet tea. 

June 16th

This Mat grew so quickly.

June 22

I was worried that the lab was too humid, but in 1 week I got an a solid sheet of Cellulose, I left it for a whole week to dry. The results below are from June 22. Probably I was ready after a few days of leaving it to dry but I'm glad I waited. 

Making Biofilm with an Older Scoby

 If you have a "Scoby Hotel" under your kitchen sink this is an opportunity to harvest Biofilm very fast! Remember you are never too old and neither is your Scoby. 

Shoutout to Molly from the Maker's Space who donated the one used on this video.