Under the microscope: Glowing alien-like flea takes top photography prize This strange alien-like creature is not a character from a science-fiction blockbuster but actually from far closer to home. The eerily beautiful image is of a water flea with a radiant green ‘crown of thorns’ to protect it from predators. It took top prize in the 2009 Olympus BioScapes Digital Imaging Competition, the world’s foremost forum for showcasing microscope photos and movies.

Under the microscope: Glowing alien-like flea takes top photography prize

This strange alien-like creature is not a character from a science-fiction blockbuster but actually from far closer to home. The eerily beautiful image is of a water flea with a radiant green ‘crown of thorns’ to protect it from predators.

It took top prize in the 2009 Olympus BioScapes Digital Imaging Competition, the world’s foremost forum for showcasing microscope photos and movies.