The hidden world of microorganisms

The hidden world of diatoms

The hidden world of testate amoebae

Our world is a wonderful place, buzzing with life of thousands of different species of plants and animals that we can see around us. But in the tree of life, the biggest diversity of species is probably found among microorganisms, creatures so small that they can only be admired though a microscope.

Because of their size, they are more difficult to study compared to bigger organisms, but in spite of their size, they are essential to the functioning of the natural world.

The hidden world of microorganisms is a series of illustrated books for children and their grown-ups , introducing them to the beauty and importance of microorganisms. In each book you will discover a different type of microorganisms, where they live, how they feed, what do they look like and also how do they contribute to the functioning of natural processes, such as oxygen production through photosynthesis, or organic matter decay through decomposition.

The hidden world of diatoms
Introducing The hidden world of diatoms, by Dr. Emanuela Samaritani

The hidden world of diatoms is the first book of the hidden world of microorganisms series. Diatoms are microscopic algae-like organisms that produce a protective shell made of silica. This shell, called frustula, has stunning characteristics. From the complex symmetric patterns that inspires jewellers and architects, to the way it refracts the light to increase photosynthesis efficiency that is studied by engineers working on solar panels, diatoms are certainly worthy of awe.

The hidden world of testate amoebae
Introducing The hidden world of testate amoebae, by Dr. Emanuela Samaritani

The hidden world of testate amoebae is the second book of the hidden world of microorganisms series. Testate amoebae do not have a fixed shape, like a blob. They move around by projecting a part of their cell in the form of a little knob that can then pull the rest of the cell behind. They protect themselves with a shell-like structure called test. Hence the name. They are very fond of wetlands, but are very sensitives to environmental changes. So much so that from the species present in a particular environment, one can easily deduce the type of conditions she’s living in.