Can Microbes See Without Eyes?

[@MalcolmCooks]

i am perpetually amazed how complex single-celled life can actually be! thank you for this service :)

[@fmlAllthetime]

Some of these aren't single celled, like the tardigrades for certain. Some single cell organisms are visible with the naked eye, some multicellular organisms aren't. Super weird, I know.

[@MagicToadSlime]

We're standing on the shoulders of (microscopic) giants. 😍

[@GLITCH_-.-]

I wonder if we permanently blind organisms on our slides with the extreme amount of light we literally push through them.

[@ShapeDoppelganger]

That may be unlikely, sunlight is many times brighter and have much more energy than the light from a microscope. And also they may not even register the same spectrum of light that we are shining at them in order to see them.

[@GLITCH_-.-]

@@ShapeDoppelganger Hm. Makes sense. Didn't think about it like that

[@suelane3628]

@@ShapeDoppelganger I am guessing that when I use that mirror to reflect sunlight in order to use my microscope; it would still be less invasive than direct sunlight.

[@GrandDukeMushroom]

@@ShapeDoppelganger Basically, Photons have an extremely low amount of energy stored in them. The more dangerous radiations are IR, UV, etc.

[@ArchangelExile]

I wouldn't say extremely low. We can feel the heat of sunlight that was emitted millions of miles away on such a tiny area of space, such as our arms. The energy levels of all the frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum varies greatly (from radio/weak to gamma/intense), but the visible light part, which is what we're talking about, still contains plenty of energy.

[@randomsleepyness]

I'll have a small look at this video

[@iSyriux]

Best joke of 2020

[@Malik-td2ft]

There's the exit, sir

[@GreatGwiaz]

Oh you think you're so clever don't you? WELL GUESS WHAT! YOU ARE!

[@persephone2706]

👏🏼

[@ChickenLegOfficial]

Har har har 😑

[@frogboiii03]

2:03 Oh no that poor microbe! RIP Little Dude. 😔

[@revenevan11]

The stentor has to eat too, it finally caught one! (RIP little dude though, he was really cute 🥺)

[@fnamelname9077]

I think that was a Didinium? You can see him trying to eat the stentor and then he's like "Oh wait I'm dead".

[@wzae___]

@@fnamelname9077 looks like a fat rotifer to me

[@iris-hopp]

I didn't expect to see spoilers while scrolling through comments on a microbe video

[@TheRogueWolf]

"I always feel like a microbe's watching me...."

[@johnnyfavorite1194]

...and I get no Macrography!

[@cannaisuer2091]

There not. Its like us looking at the observable universe.

[@cannaisuer2091]

Theyre

[@nagydoesstuff]

m i l l i o n s..

[@Ready_Set_Boom]

I always feel like amoebas watching me and there’s no friability! Woah ohh

[@semaj_5022]

This episode was so visually stunning. I was completely glued to the screen. Its amazing seeing the diversity that exists in the world when it comes to different ways of sensing and reacting to light. Endlessly fascinating.

[@balikis]

Hey dear Microcosmos team, I really like your work; thanks !

[@RafaelFyen]

Seconded.

[@iloveeveryone8611]

Thirded

[@nablamakabama488]

Quadrupled

[@Ratigan2]

Quintupled

[@kisnpisn4919]

sextoupleeeeehm.. 6th!

[@rotifer]

*Microbial eyes? All the better to see you with my dear!*

[@fishbutnoegg]

THE ROTIFER

[@world_reborn1990]

I love you

[@iloveeveryone8611]

jeff uz I love everyone!

[@NonDelusional74611]

I Love Everyone! You do not

[@iloveeveryone8611]

NonDelusional74611 :(

[@newkkl]

This channel just keeps getting better. The new microscope and the images you get now are endlessly interesting, and humbling. Even the tiniest single-celled being has a vast complexity driven by the same spark of life as us. Quite remarkable.

[@amytaf2387]

7:32 can we just take a moment to appreciate this living video game obstacle. He/she/it is truly a magnificent creature.

[@_ThankMeLater]

Bro was afraid to use the wrong pronouns on a microorganism 💀

[@Charlie-fy5fy]

@@_ThankMeLater we live in a society

[@Indigoharpy]

@@_ThankMeLater 🤣🤣🤣

[@kurage_medusa]

Damn you're right it's just like the little crawly bois in hollow knight

[@noeldenever]

Wait. Does this mean Stentor coeruleus, my favorite denizen of the microcosmos, is tortured by light during the shooting? Oh I'm so sorry, pretty Stentor...

[@JamsGerms]

noeldenever Definitely not! :D

[@noeldenever]

@@JamsGerms whew, nice to know I'm not a voyeur of micro S&M. As always, thanks for your work! 😁

[@siyacer]

Yes, it destroys their body covering.

[@SquirrelGrrl]

Jam's Germs Hi, how do you film them acting naturally as seen in past videos? A different wavelength? Thanks for all the incredible footage!!!

[@TheRealFlenuan]

"Tortured" is a strong word

[@A3Kr0n]

"It was not something leading to us". Exactly. There is no evolutionary "ladder"

[@clearmenser]

It's a tree. So much in the natural world is shaped like a tree.

[@TheRealFlenuan]

Right, there's only an apparent one, in our privileged, biased hindsight. Evolution has no long-term "goals". That said, it's still possible to think of "ancient"/"primitive" (more technically called conservative or basal) traits in modern species as proxies for the ancestral states of homologous equivalents in the human body/cells. This is especially true when comparing single-celled life to macroscopic multicellular organisms, since in the former these homologous traits have usually changed much less (functionally, structurally and genetically) and, unlike our ancestors, have had relatively unchanged selective pressures for many millions of years.

[@2l84t]

For you apparently not. Big fan of Bronze Age boogey man ?

[@izzymuse1957]

its a bunch of different solutions to the same problems

[@JaneXemylixa]

An anthropologist I like listening to has said that literally every living thing at the moment is a peak of evolution. After all, it got to exist.

[@the_hanged_clown]

even if all it ends up being is a fuzzy grayscale I'd still love to see a visualization of what these little eyes might actually perceive

[@rutvikpanchal466]

Thank you... Me : awww, you're welcome To Skillshare Me : ohhh...

[@PhillyHippy]

In this series, Hank sounds so relaxed and slow, as opposed to his Sci Show counterpart that is very energetic and excitable.

[@hunterc626]

5:43 I hadn't heard it in a while and I wondered if you retired this track. I love animals and whatnot but I love (this specific) songs too!

[@sitarnut]

That's thanks to Andrew Huang

[@allanphillips6417]

Is this track something u can find or is it specifically for the show?

[@beyoss]

Someone know how to track down this track?

[@elizabethgall5327]

"Evolution...was not leading to *us*" gave me chills. So well said!

[@chrisveenker3150]

I'm so glad I found this channel. Superb content :)

[@NewMessage]

I pulled the old "Ahh I seeee...." bit, and my daughter just paused the video and looked me dead in the eye with a look of disdain and said "See this? My big bright smile? No? Think about that." , then she turned back to the screen and pressed play again.

[@cholulahotsauce6166]

She makes me proud.

[@jeremysolano398]

Hank Green's voice is just simply amazing

[@Summer-xe6in]

This channel and everyone involved are miraculous. I truly have no words to described how much you make me geek out when I see a new video has been released. Thank you for taking the leap in creating this channel and giving us the privilege of going on this journey into the microcosmos! ^_^

[@thunder1_2]

bro you are so good at explaining so many things, and you say it with so much enthusiasm! you arent like a boring science teacher that always speaks in a low monotone voice! you are cool!❤

[@dickrichard626]

He doesn't care. 😂

[@ManishSharma-iu4vj]

Videos like these are like chapters of encyclopaedia. Hope videos like these become a medium of education in schools in my country. Would be so great.

[@andybeans5790]

The part discussing the energetic cost of sight reminds me of a hypothesised difference between anatomically modern humans and Neanderthals; our cousins apparently had larger eyes and it's thought a larger area of their brain dedicated to visual processing, whereas our optic centres are smaller and we may have instead dedicated more grey matter to developing our social aquities. Neanderthal communties were very small in comparison to human ones, reflecting less social abilities.

[@bananajoe3669]

Everytime when i see a video on this channel, i'm aware that these little organisms have no brains and no awareness. But they live without knowing that they live. That's crazy!

[@Dragrath1]

we don't actually know that they lack awareness that is a hypothesis that is hard to test scientifically

[@spyrofrost9158]

Perhaps a single celled organism's nucleus isn't as powerful or complex as a brain, but surely they must have some form of awareness or another. Otherwise predation and escape from predators likely wouldn't be possible.

[@johndor7793]

@@Dragrath1 I think it's accurate to say they have rudimentary awareness and nothing more. I gave this example before. A mirror was put in the jungle and most of the animals couldn't tell it was their reflection. So yeah I don't think it's a stretch to say microbes lack a ton of awareness other than the most basic.

[@Dragrath1]

@@johndor7793 While the general hypothesis is a fairly plausible one I had been trying to point out that we don't really understand exactly how our sense of awareness arises thus we should be careful to jump to conclusions. While I personally doubt they will be highly capable of cognitive feats on their own there is evidence that biofilms and slime molds can demonstrate fairly complex problem solving skills despite lacking a brain. As a related note there have been a number of lines of evidence being raised against the mirror test for instance. Rather than general intelligence for humans the mirror test experiments really just seem to measure facial recognition capabilities given how people with damage to the parts of the brain related to that function fail to recognize themselves in the mirror largely in part to them completely losing the ability to recognize faces. An interesting comparison demonstrating the difficulty in reading the mirror tests results is new Caledonian crows which are well known for their problem solving skills and their ability to visualize and plan actions in multiple steps enabling them to manufacture tools from objects in their environment (as opposed to all other tool using animals which can use existing objects but not make new tools from non tool materials). At face value experiments show they appear to "fail" to recognize themselves in the reflection however experiments show it isn't that simple as they can readily figure out how to use a mirror to solve puzzles or explore their environment so it isn't like they don't understand how to use a mirror. Basically intelligence doesn't seem to be all or nothing and the way an organism processes information from their environment will play a role in that process.

[@brittanygidonable]

​@@johndor7793 Yea, because we tested them like we would test a human. www.pnas.org/content/114/12/3258

[@Microscopyenthusiast]

I am an avid follower of the journey to the microcosms. I learn from their videos a lot. Chromatic adaptation is a term I have never heard before. Thank you very much.

[@scottbruner9987]

Hank, I love listening to the way you speak in these videos. Combined with the music, they are VERY relaxing. Not to mention informative as well. Thank you

[@anthonyeyler5505]

I love this channel and hank’s chill voice is the nectar of the gods.

[@dogzer]

Last time I was this early I was an eyeless microbe.

[@massimookissed1023]

So, a mcrobe then.

[@crazyboutferrets]

Massimo O'Kissed dad jokes

[@LoremasterLiberaster]

Damn the "I see you" Sauron similarity on the thumbnail is insane

[@JamsGerms]

Don’t miss the the poor rotifer that is eaten by Stentor coeruleus at 2:00.

[@hippopajamas]

*slurp*

[@rotifer]

*You monster!*

[@CraftyZanTub]

Your little 'beg' for subscriptions was surprisingly tasteful and brief.

[@grant7929]

All those who think this is a great video say “YES”...the AYES have it

[@chironOwlglass]

So....Sybille Stentor's name in Skyrim is apparently a VERY niche joke/reference. (Get it...vampire? Hates sun) Ok Bethesda, who's the microbe nerd on the team?

[@MissJ970]

Never disappointed - thank you JTTM!

[@th484953]

I know it is probably because they're rare and hard to get video of but you guys should check out Warnowiids, singled celled dinoflagellates with an eye with a lens and a retina of sort. Paper out of UBC in 2015 describes them in great detail!

[@harukasatou1359]

I may be colourblind (Deuteranopia), but I always feel compelled to watch more of this channel's content. Sure I can't see all the colours you probably can, but that doesn't matter. Every video is interesting, even to me in my dull, drab, and depressingly coloured world.

[@garbagebin8282]

Anyone else here watches these videos to relax after a long day? Something about the combination of the visuals and his voice is so calming.

[@kisnpisn4919]

i‘m in love with the new microscope and the amazing footage we get to see! thank you so much 😊

[@MV-vv7sg]

Ever since learning some microbes had a light sensing structure which literally just propels as flagella in response to light, I now think that all human behaviour, especially consciousness, is likely just a complicated interplay of basic reactions like this, just evolved. No funny mind-body problem, consciousness issues etc, just cells responding to stimuli in an extended network.

[@thomasjohnpaine8443]

I only just learned that or humble narrator is none other than the illustrious Hank Green!

[@CatFish107]

I first experienced the idea of the entire world having evolved alongside humans, rather than a human centered point of view with the thought that the other great apes have continued to evolve from our common ancestor for as long as we have. We didn't come from chimpanzees or bonobos, they've evolved alongside us, as our cousins. This video connected the dots for me that this concept applies to all of creation (who or what did or did not create is fuel for engagement metrics!)

[@CatFish107]

Double tap to say, thanks for the slower pace of narration in this series. Hank, you've got a lovely voice, I like it when you let it linger a bit for us, rather than the crash course rapid fact beat (which also has its appropriate application).

[@thomasmurphy9429]

oscillatoria can literally only vibe. its an organizing that is just vibing 100% of the time

[@protercool8474]

This channel makes me think a lot about how evolution continues on. We act like we left behind our single celled relatives, but no. We evolved to do it one way, they've also continuously evolved to do it a billion other ways. Multicelled isn't the result, its a result.

[@dianamelamet]

Wonderful subject and lovely beings depicted, as always, thanks!

[@Beryllahawk]

An illuminating look into this aspect of the microcosmos

[@Plain_Wizard]

The soundtrack is so calming! Will you release it on spotify in the future?

[@paul6925]

Yea it’s nice to hear decent quality and original music on a channel like this

[@cycoholic]

I'd like a KZbin channel with this music. 👍

[@melonlord1414]

If I remember correctly it was a perk at last year's charity life stream from Hank and his Brother.

[@NaturalWorldFacts]

What a brilliant video bringing light to an often overlooked idea. That’s what I love about this channel, you present lesser known micro-organisms in a fascinating light! Would you be interested in doing a collaboration with me?

[@beautyforashes2022]

1:25 Ooooh, I love the Blepherisma. Opaque pinky, purple, what a gorgeous little critter. I bet it would look really beautiful under polarized light, probably light up all kinds of glittery. 1:59 Stentor coeruleus is also a favorite of mine. With their beautiful, green bottle blue coloration, they're just so pretty.

[@AnonJohn]

Can you make a video on how cells heal themselves? Love your videos!

[@johannesjohnjj]

That last pun was so good :)

[@TheRealFlenuan]

The two-eyed microbes are absolutely stunning

[@gigatrooper5098]

this always feel like a spore game but in hi-def

[@phylumsi8372]

Features of the flatworms eye: “The photosensitive cells contain a pigment that reacts to light, and signal nerve cells when they do so. The eyespots have no lenses to focus images. Due to their simplicity, eye spots cannot produce images. Instead, the eyespots can only tell light from dark.” I wonder if flatworms can truly only tell light from dark and that some species can perhaps also differentiate (wavelengths of) colors. For example certain flatworm species like Leucochloridium paradoxum (causes the eyestalks of a snail to resemble green pulsating caterpillars) and Myrmeconema neotropicum (causes the ant abdomen to resemble a ripe red berry) change the physical appearance of the infected host to facilitate transmission to subsequent hosts (birds). These parasites manipulate with light / colors to make the infected host more visible and attractive to be eaten by the secondary host.

[@riann.oc1]

oh to see without my eyes

[@deltawave4669]

Literally haha

[@protunno87]

Me: *opens the video Narrator: thank you Me: oh you're welc.. Narrator: ..TO SKILLSHARE! Me: of course, who else?! 😌

[@purplehaze2342]

New sub here love this stuff, any plans in a full length documentary?

[@Cordy712]

Thanks for the video and honestly, that Porter Yates course is amazing

[@fongdimbulator]

Pretty sure I learned how a Plumbus is made somewhere through this video

[@amentrison2794]

I feel heard! Thanks for making this episode

[@Thrillbo341]

can you release some high-res stills of the Oscillatoria at the 3:00?. I've had Jupiter's arse as my desktop background for a few years, but that shits fucking gorgeous.

[@jrmckim]

3:35 Those aren't spirit fingers!! THESE are spirit fingers!! 🙌

[@dougfairbanks8055]

Excellent episode Team JTTM...lots of info!! Many thanks & a belated Merry Christmas from Down Under!!

[@NatureWitch]

I really enjoy the background music I really brings out the microcosmic world.

[@rotifer]

*I don't need eyes to know that you're beautiful, giant hairless space monkeys.*

[@abraxas4645]

Maybe this question has been asked before but how do you observe those photophobic creatures?

[@JoaoGabriel-hk8ub]

They can't really hide on the microscopic slide, unless there's enough debris to cover them.

[@flightlesschicken7769]

AAAAAHHHH the Macroverse! This isn't the microverse I was promised! ;)

[@mitalisharma440]

so illuminating . WOW.

[@SirArthurTheGreat]

Ok WTF that Stentor at 4:05 looks absolutely insane!

[@358itachi]

This video was a real eye opener.

[@bmnftw1]

This video is what sold me on 60fps content.

[@IAmNumber4000]

This channel is so cool. Like really.

[@Uatarreu]

these videos are made to be watched while you're high

[@randywatson8347]

Those strips look so out of this world and it lives.

[@asatamer]

I fucking love Journey to the Microcosmos! TY!

[@Musistics]

1:49 Holy Eyeball!

[@cherubin7th]

3:30 Plants are green to keep absorption low. I am not sure that they maximize it.

[@eloimumford5247]

On ne voit bien qu'avec les yeux du coeur. Thanks for sharing.

[@Adam-xr6fj]

Seems like this video has better framerate than your previous videos. Great to see improvements.

[@jek__]

I mean, i think if they see with it, its an eye... So by definition, eyes are needed to see as sight is done by eyes. The mechanism of a small photoresistor is pretty simple, doesn't seem hard to believe that many small organisms have light detection capabilities, perhaps even partitioned light detection, which ultimately becomes high resolution imagery

[@paulward1053]

So has anyone else noticed how some of these microscopic organisms remind you of an octopus. Octopi and mollusk being the macro evolution of microorganisms?

[@tiolavara13]

that last video piece is very cool

[@dirtpoorchris]

Is there any microbe that can see bioluminescence? Like existing in a giant glowing world.

[@guillermomoneo2589]

wow! If I only had had this kind of videos when was In college. GREAT WORK!!

[@SatyaVenugopal]

The Journey to the Microcosmos version of Hank Green is the peak ASMR version

[@Mi_Fa_Volare]

I don't know... I struggled to stay awake.

[@NitemareMoon]

This channel was such a great find

[@denis_zanotto]

I just loved the music during the video!!

[@charwyrm8702]

Early moment, super excited!

[@Th3EpitapH]

gotta give us a look at that ostracod. thing's like a tiny hermit crab

[@chumaggots666]

Love the channel 💙

[@TimBorny]

Why are they eye spots/stigmas of the euglena and phacus so distinctly red under the microscope?

[@stretchEE1]

I wanna see a video that compares or combines microbiology and astronomy

[@VeggiePun]

Why does the Artemia have the big dark spot? Is it absorbing all the light or is something else happening?

[@SuperFlamingTomato]

In future, would it be OK to point out red/green things? It was very hard for me to see where the red spot is

[@elephantfeeet]

what microscope are you using.... amazing

[@Treksh]

Thanks for the episode~

[@jesipohl6717]

So good.

[@adilhamza7968]

And I thought it was genius in our existence that we through history each have unique finger print 🤣 man you opened a new universe to(us) thank you 👍

[@babyblazeredstone9133]

Rotifers are multicellular?

[@pardotkynes1]

loved this one