Astonishing footage of abnormal cell movement in lungs wins 2026 Nikon video microscopy prize

A stunning video capturing intricate cell movement in a child living with a rare genetic disorder has won the 16th annual Nikon Small World in Motion competition.

Using an advanced microscopic imaging tool, Ning Xu of Tsinghua University in Beijing, China , observed the abnormal beating of airway cilia — hairlike structures that protrude from cells within the human body — in a child with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD).

Typically, cilia line the airways and beat in coordinated waves that clear mucus and debris from the lungs.

However, in a person with PCD, those threadlike structures can beat abnormally, hindering airway clearance and contributing to recurrent respiratory infections.

“To understand this disease, you need to observe around 10 seconds of motion, not just a still image,” Xu, an optical engineer who develops advanced imaging systems to aid scientists in better understanding complex cellular structures through motion, said in a press release Wednesday.

“When people watch cilia beating, they immediately understand that something beautiful and important is happening inside us,” Xu added. “I think this competition turns microscopy into a shared language.”

Launched to celebrate technological progression in microscopic photography, the Nikon Small World in Motion competition welcomes entries from anyone with an interest in photography or video.

This year, the video contest received 347 entries from 40 countries, judged by a panel composed of specialists in science and advanced light microscopy.

Too small for the eye to see, microscopic images captured on camera

“Xu’s work, and the work of all our winners, reflects the competition’s enduring purpose to inspire wonder, fuel discovery, and showcase the artistry inherent in scientific exploration,” Eric Flem, senior manager, communications and CRM at Nikon Instruments, said in the release.

The second place prize was awarded to Nguyen Nam Nhat for his video of a minuscule roundworm and a single-celled Dileptus, while third place went to Benedikt Pleyer for his video of jellyfish larvae suspended in water droplets.

Fourth place was awarded to Andrew Moore, who captured the synchronized cell division in neighboring cells, and the fifth place winner was Patrick Hickey, whose video exhibited the dynamics of mitochondria (green) and chloroplasts (red) in turtle vine leaf cells.

一段令人惊叹的视频捕捉到患有罕见遗传疾病的儿童体内复杂的细胞运动，赢得了第 16 届尼康“微观世界动态摄影大赛”的冠军。

中国北京清华大学的徐宁利用先进的显微成像工具，观察到患有原发性纤毛运动障碍（PCD）的儿童气道纤毛（从人体细胞伸出的毛发状结构）的异常摆动。

通常情况下，呼吸道内壁有纤毛，纤毛以协调的波状摆动，清除肺部的粘液和碎屑。

然而，在患有原发性纤毛运动障碍 (PCD) 的人身上，这些丝状结构可能会异常摆动，阻碍气道清除，并导致反复呼吸道感染。

“要了解这种疾病，你需要观察大约 10 秒钟的运动，而不仅仅是静止的图像，”徐在周三的新闻稿中说。徐是一名光学工程师，他开发先进的成像系统，以帮助科学家通过运动更好地了解复杂的细胞结构。

徐补充道：“当人们观察纤毛摆动时，他们会立刻明白我们体内正在发生一些美丽而重要的事情。我认为这场比赛让显微镜技术成为了一种共通的语言。”

为庆祝显微摄影技术的进步，尼康举办了“微观世界动态摄影”大赛，欢迎所有对摄影或视频感兴趣的人士参赛。

今年，视频比赛收到了来自 40 个国家的 347 份参赛作品，评委团由科学和先进光学显微镜领域的专家组成。

肉眼无法看到的微观图像，由相机拍摄。

尼康仪器公司通讯与客户关系管理高级经理埃里克·弗莱姆在新闻稿中表示：“徐的作品以及所有获奖者的作品，体现了这项赛事的持久宗旨，即激发好奇心，推动发现，并展示科学探索中固有的艺术性。”

阮南日凭借其拍摄的微小线虫和单细胞 Dileptus 的视频获得了第二名，而贝内迪克特·普莱耶凭借其拍摄的悬浮在水滴中的水母幼虫的视频获得了第三名。

安德鲁·摩尔获得了第四名，他捕捉到了相邻细胞中同步的细胞分裂；帕特里克·希基获得了第五名，他的视频展示了龟背竹叶细胞中线粒体（绿色）和叶绿体（红色）的动态。