mucus with bacteria

100X from dad

Some time ago, I took a look under one of my dad's coughed up mucus (disgusting but a curiosity I wanted to find out about) and realized there were a few bits of bacteria along with other unknown particles.

100X from dad

Mucus is the liquid-like substance along the respiratory tract. It protects your body from anything you inhale such as dusts, viruses, and bacteria. It has antibiotics and enzymes to defend against what was inhaled.

100X from mom

I also took a look at my mom's mucus. What fascinated me was how the particles in each of the mucus were different: my father's having dotted and curled particles/bacteria while my mother's displayed different types of particles and possible living organisms.

400X from mom

Nylon or mattress springs?

When you see this, what do you think it is? The spring of a mattress? Chains? Threads?
Well.. they're all good guesses but are all incorrect!

40X

It turns out, these are nylon polymers connected to create stockings!!!

Believe it or not, nylon comes from petroleum, just like how asphalt also comes from it. It is not only sturdy but also flexible! 

40X illuminator

The "chain" like nylon polymers are actually extremely flexible despite its appearance! When I stretched it, I observed the polymers bending to oval-like shapes!

40X illuminator

A little background history: The nylon stockings were created in 1939 and were also used in World War II for manufacturing tents and parachutes! The stockings were also big in popularity during the mid-twentieth century.
The Polyamide is actually very thermal and chemical resistant.

100X illuminator

Personally, I wonder whether this polymer could return to benefit the world when it returns back into the environment, rather than further harming it because of its incapability of decomposing for a long time. I also find this quite ironic because this polymer comes from petroleum, a NATURAL resource, yet harms nature when it is returned.

100X illuminator

portable microscope

portable microscope