a post about bacteria

So today I was attempting to check out my bacteria under the microscope (yes, I finally coaxed them into growing) and it was giving me some grief. The bacteria I’m working with produces this stuff called green fluorescent protein, so to see if it’s alive and well I look for little fluorescing specks. I was getting frustrated, decided maybe it was too bright to see my bugs, so I turned off the light and continued searching for any sign of life.

Then I saw a little speck of light! Hallelujah! Using my mad microscope skills, I slowly brought the field into focus, and can I just tell you… it was beautiful. Really. All those little bacteria, fluorescing like crazy on a black background, looked just like a billion sparkling stars.

Stars and bacteria. Completely opposite things. But both are kind of amazing.