Nanoindent on deformed copper imaged with channeling contrast. Nanoindentation is a tool to measure the hardness very localised at a low force. Therefore surface defects such as scratches or, as can be seen here, the oxide layer might have an influence on the measurement.

Courtesy of Joern Leuthold

Taken by Nova NanoSEM microscope

SEM image of zinc oxide flowers synthesized by solvo-thermal method

Courtesy of Amal Al Ghaferi

Taken by Quanta SEM microscope

Image of a cactus acquired and colorized by high school student Soomin Kim.

Courtesy of Mrs. Alyssa Waldron , Bergen County Technical Schools

Taken by Quanta SEM microscope

etched Fingerprint

Courtesy of Karin Whitmore

Taken by Quanta SEM microscope

Stereoscopic image of the intercrystlline pores in pyrite framboid within shale rock matrix.

Courtesy of Mr. Jan Goral , National Energy and Technology Laboratory

Taken by Helios NanoLab microscope

a crystal of some synthetic materials

Courtesy of Mr. Wadah Mahmoud , The University of Jordan

Taken by Inspect microscope

A nano silver tip on nano copper crystal.

Courtesy of wadah mahmoud

Taken by Inspect microscope

Image of a felt marker tip; courtesy of student Maria Mendoza.

Courtesy of Alyssa Calabro

Taken by Quanta 3D microscope

Utricularia Aurea Seed

Courtesy of Azizi Abd. Jalil

Taken by Quanta SEM microscope

Parasites (pink) located in water fowl sperm duct.

Courtesy of Ms. Pat Kysar , University of California, Davis

Taken by SEM microscope

silver nanorods and particles growth on copper crystals

Courtesy of wadah mahmoud

Taken by Inspect microscope

Diatoms

Courtesy of Mr. Gokhan ERDOGAN , Izmir Institute of Technology

Taken by Quanta SEM microscope

Graphite Sheets by CARBAJO MARIA Graphite sheets. This material is the main component of the tip of a pencil.

Taken by Quanta SEM microscope

Silver clusters deposited by thermal evaporation onto self-assembled polystyrene nano-spheres (900 nm). Inspect F SEM FEG @ Nanofacility Piemonte INRIM. Self-assembled polystyrene nanospheres are used as masks for thin films and materials nanostructuration on large area. Maybe the subject doesn't match the topics of this year, but surely the title fits.

Courtesy of Luca Boarino

Taken by Inspect microscope

GOLD LAYER ON DIAMOND, DIAMOND IS PATTERNED BY FIB

Courtesy of Dr. aravindan sivanandam , IIT DELHI

Taken by Quanta 3D microscope

Negativo de imagen HAADF de nanopartículas de Rutenio depositadas sobre microesferas de xerogel de carbón. HAADF negative image of Ru nanoparticles deposited on xerogel carbon microballs.

Courtesy of Dr. María del Mar Abad Ortega , Universidad de Granada

Taken by Krios microscope

Polyimide Removal on a Package

Courtesy of FEI

Taken by Vion Plasma microscope

Tricomes on Squash leaf surface Order: Cucurbitales Family: Cucurbitaceae Genus_species: Cucurbita maxima Scanning electron microscope image of squash leaf tip area

Courtesy of Louisa Howard

Taken by Quanta SEM microscope

The scanning electron microscopes (SEM)-image of field emitters, formed by focused ion beam milling. The diameter of each tip less than 100 nm.

Courtesy of Alexey Kolomiytsev

Taken by DualBeam microscope

PFIB Chunking for Tomography, Helios G4 PFIB

Taken by Helios G4 PFIB microscope

Taken by Explorer 4 CleanCHK microscope

This is an image of a coriander seed. It is a 50/50 mix of BSE/LFD colourised and mixed using FEI XT software. Imaged in low vacuum mode,

Courtesy of Mr. Dylan Goudie , Memorial University of Newfoundland

Taken by MLA microscope

Gold nanoparticles on an ITO surface under a layer of graphene. The structure of the ITO, which is transparent in optical microscopes, is visible in blue. The nanoparticles are clearly visible through the very thin layer of graphene. Sample prepared by Joanna Niedziolka-Jönsson for this article: dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4867167

Courtesy of Dr. Martin Jonsson-Niedziolka , Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences

Taken by Nova NanoSEM microscope

Microstructures grown by MOCVD (metalorganic chemical vapour deposition).

Courtesy of Francisco Rangel

Taken by Quanta SEM microscope

Na-Ca-Silica structures in sedimentary rocks - Crystal Structures Vermicular 2012

Courtesy of Mariano Davoli

Taken by Quanta 3D microscope