“Weevil Perched on Rice Grain Triumphs in Nikon Small World Photography Contest”

Zhang You, hailing from Kunming, Yunnan, China, took home the top prize in the Nikon Small World competition with a remarkable photograph featuring a rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae) on a grain of rice, achieved using image stacking techniques and magnification of 5X with an objective lens. This image exemplifies the captivating artistry that can be attained through scientific microscopy. Established in 1974, Nikon Small World showcases images from the realms of digital imaging and scientific microscopy, highlighting the distinctive artistry and accessibility these fields present to the public.

With a strong enthusiasm for entomology and an unwavering commitment to refining his skills, Zhang’s photograph radiates a fusion of scientific understanding and artistic expression. This marked his first entry into the competition, and his achievement reflects the competition’s mission to make scientific creativity both inclusive and prevalent.

Zhang’s success is acknowledged by Eric Flem, senior manager of communications and CRM at Nikon Instruments, as a representation of the contest’s essence. This annual event displays a variety of stunning images, ranging from pollen ensnared in spider webs to heart muscle cells, all examined under the microscope’s scrutiny.

The Nikon Small World in Motion, a parallel competition that emphasizes digital moving images captured with a microscope, broadens the investigation of the unseen world that surrounds us. The announcement of these winners unveils a captivating microscopic universe that often remains overlooked.

The top 12 photographs from the 2025 Nikon Small World photo competition consist of:

1. Zhang You – Rice weevil on a grain of rice, China – 1st Place
2. Dr. Jan Rosenboom – Colonial algae (Volvox) spheres, Germany – 2nd Place
3. John-Oliver Dum – Pollen in a spider web, Germany – 3rd Place
4. Dr. James Hayes – Heart muscle cells post cell division, USA – 4th Place
5. Dr. Igor Siwanowicz – Spores of tropical fern, USA – 5th Place
6. Dr. Francisco Lázaro-Diéguez – Rat liver cells, USA – 6th Place
7. Stella Whittaker – iPSC-derived sensory neurons, USA – 7th Place
8. Dr. Igor Siwanowicz – Mallow pollen on stigma, USA – 8th Place
9. Wim van Egmond – Fungus Talaromyces purpureogenus, Netherlands – 9th Place
10. Dr. Dylan Burnette & Dr. James Hayes – Heart muscle cells metaphase, USA – 10th Place
11. Marek Miś – Sunflower trichomes, Poland – 11th Place
12. Halli Lindamood & Eric Vitriol – Mouse brain cancer cell, USA – 12th Place

For additional information and captivating visuals, explore the Nikon Small World [Website](http://www.nikonsmallworld.com/), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/nikonsmallworld), and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/nikoninstruments/).