Here’s the interview video I recently did:
Tardigrade Interview being filmed – Click to see the video
In depth article about my research is here:
Please bear with the commercial if it appears first…
Please be kind enough to leave your comment.
Want to buy a microscope? Check out my store: Mike’s Microscope Store
Thanks!
Mike Shaw
About Mike ShawMike Shaw can be described as a naturalist in the classical sense. His contribution to Science is a by-product of his love for exploring the natural world. Having participated in a chimpanzee rehabilitation project in West Africa, he later travelled to the Amazon to study paper and pulp production as it relates to deforestation. Twice travelling to the observatory at Arecibo, he has done contributing research on their S.E.T.I. project. He is the author of How to Make Rheinberg Filters, for the Hobbyist or Professional. His most recent project has been a comprehensive survey of tardigrade population in the state of New Jersey. Look for a published scientific paper soon.
Hi Mike,
Great interview! Love your format in the woods.
Good luck on your paper.
Charla Mason
Victoria BC Canada
Charla – Thanks! I appreciate your kind thoughts.
– Mike
The video link now points to a different article (as does the video link from the interview page itself). Interesting text all the same!
Gary – Thanks! I think I’ve fixed it now. I guess the original link was to a daily newsfeed, and my interview was on thqat day. Thanks for pointing this out. I’ll check it tomorrow again, and see if all is well…
That was great! Very informative & well described (Folks of just about any age could understand it). Very unique (vintage/brass) scope used.
Kind regards,
-Al
Not vintage brass- but same type – in stainless, called Boreal Prism Microscope. Great for field work.
Thanks for your comments.
What are your academic qualifications?
Like you- an interest in science and nature. I have a degree in Fine Art, however, that doesn’t disqualify me from doing solid scientific research. Koch and Pasteur were great scientists (not that I’m comparing myself) who had jobs as doctors. Einstein was a patent clerk when he wrote his theory on relativity. So, not comparing myself, but pointing out that my qualifications for this particular task are a passion for science, and the discipline to do the research correctly. Thanks for a really good question.
Dear Mike,
I just want to say that I find what you’re doing inspiring and encouraging. I am a 23 year old math student and science enthusiast, and it gives me such hope that like-minded individuals actually ARE out there, loving and studying nature. Tardigrades are obviously significant, and it’s high time we found at all we can about them. Your research is important to me personally and I hope very much to meet you one day.
You’ve inspired me to get a microscope and start dissecting plants, and hopefully i’ll be seeing our little eight legged friends to!
Peace,
Paul
Thanks, Paul!
I appreciate your kind comments. Science can be lots of fun, and bring you closer (literally too) to the world around you. Good luck in your journey.
Mike
this reminds me of my thesis research that i did in kansas and missouri 40 years ago.
Robert – Hey- time flies, doesn’t it? Thanks for your comment!
Rgds,
Mike
Hey Mike,
At my highschool, I’m doing a year long project on tardigrades. My partners and I will be testing two variables and seeing if they affect the tardigrades reproductive system. The only thing is we do not know where we could get an exact species of tardigrades. I was wondering if you could possibly help with that? We are from Northern Kentucky and just need six or eight tardigrades. Any help you could give us is very much appreciated.
Signed,
Daniel
Daniel – A year long project sounds about right. It takes a while to get all the data you need. As far as a particular species – you will find Milnesium to be abundant, and consistently easy to recognize. So work with those, because there is no mistaking them. Send me an e-mail and I’ll send you a paper showing you how to recognize them. mike@mikeshawtoday.com
Hello Mike! I just found your site and it’s very interesting!
I am a Microbiology student in Utah and my lab partner and I are curious about tardigrades. They are unique and easily found, however we want to demonstrate cryptobiosis–which seems like a more taxing task. Do you have any information on how we could demonstrate this, like the end products they would stop producing and is it difficult to get them to go into this hibernation state? Thanks so much!
Rebecca- Thanks for your message. Nothing could be easier. Once you have a tardigrade on a slide under the microscope, you only need to take a series of photographs as the water dries out. The tardigrade will go into cryptobiosis as is dehydrates, and you will have documented it. Send me an e-mail at mike@mikeshawtoday.com if you need more information.
Good luck with your project.
Mike
Hey Mike,
I really liked your video. It was very informative. I’m a Biology TA at Berea College and I’m working with some other TAs on developing a Tardigrade lab for the introductory biology lab course here. I was just wondering how easy it would be to find Tardigrades in Central Kentucky and also what kind kind of species we would find.
John – Very easy to find tardigrades in Kentucky. I can’t tell you what kind, but once you see them, I can give you some hints. To find them, refer to my article: http://tardigrade.us/how-to-articles/how-to-find-tardigrades/
Good luck, and keep me posted.
Rgds,
Mike
Mike, your enthusiasm for these creatures is really inspiring to me. For about a decade I have been studying these critters, and when I saw your video, I saw your interesting microscope. Where can I get one of those?
John -
Thanks for your comments! The micrsocope is a Prism Microscope, and you can get it here.
http://tardigrade.us/stores/the-microscope-store/
You’ll see something similar on page 2 of the store as well. These prism microscopes are good field microscopes because you can illuminate you specimen with a small LED flashlight held up to the prism, or just by using the ambient light outdoors.
Good luck!
Mike
Will Amscope objectives work with the Prism Microscope?
John
They should work. these prism microscopes use standard objectives. You can’t use oil or 100x though, as working distance too close.
Rgds,
Mike
How do I make permanent slides of tardigrades? Will you please share the fixative, mountant, and the entire process from the culture onwards?
John -
The entire process is in my book – How To Find Tardigrades. Preview here:
http://tardigrade.us/how-to-articles/how-to-find-tardigrades/
There is a chapter called: Mounting Tardigrades on Permanent Slides
Short version: In a nutshell – you use dry out the tardigrade in stages using isopropyl alcohol in stages to replace the water, then when all water gone- you let the alcohol almost all dry up, and place a drop of PVA (Polyvinyl alcohol) on top. Cover with a round cover glass. Let this dry for a couple of days, then seal with Cytoseal.
I prefer to use the double cover glass method combining both. Too complex to describe here, so I gave you the simple version. Full detain described in the book.
I hope this has helped.
Rgds,
Mike
Can brightfield illumination be used to identify species of tardigrades?
John -
Yes, brightfield is fine.
Is phase contrast better for this? Yes. Is DIC even better? Yes. Differential Interference contrast is best, but alas, we are not millionaires here.
You might want to make some darkfield stops to enhance your viewing. http://www.rheinberg-filters.com explains the basics.
Rgds,
Mike