Technologies

Winners of Nikon’s small-world photo contest reveal invisible wonders

The first place image is a violet and cyan-stained oak leaf, magnified 60 times.

Oscar Wilde famously wrote that «life imitates art far more than art imitates life.» Artists, he meant, help us see beauty in the world around us by pointing out beautiful things. Perhaps we love the way water lilies look because of Monet’s wonderful impressionist paintings of them.

By challenging artist-scientists to find beauty in the tiniest of life’s creations — think, snowflakes, insects and neurons — Nikon’s Small World Photomicrography competition might take Wilde’s sentiment to the another level.

After you check out 2021’s winners in the gallery below, I wouldn’t be too surprised if the housefly currently buzzing around your living room starts to strike you as rather dazzling.

From almost 1,900 entries across 88 countries, the competition, now in its 47th year, selected a stunning top 20. The first place photo captures translucent white appendages blooming over violet pores of a cyan oak leaf. To get the shot, winner Jason Kirk magnified the leaf by 60 times. Sixty times! Imagine pinching into and fully zooming your iPhone photos 60 separate times, but having the image remain ultra-focused.

«The lighting side of it was complicated,» Kirk said in a statement. «Microscope objectives are small and have a very shallow depth of focus. I couldn’t just stick a giant light next to the microscope and have the lighting be directional. It would be like trying to light the head of a pin with a light source that’s the size of your head. Nearly impossible.»

Other winning images include one that shows neon green wispy strings around a mouse’s sensory neuron that make the cell resemble a glow-in-the-dark jellyfish. One displays a second mouse’s 3D brain vasculature reminiscent of a winter wonderland, and the forest of vessels fits perfectly with another artist’s winning image — a single, crystal clear snowflake that showcases nature’s ability to create perfect symmetry.

These pictures could easily hang next to the abstract art pieces found in The Whitney and spark discussion of color theory and surrealism. Even if you aren’t a science lover, it’s hard not to stare at these unique pieces of art. They help us peek into worlds that, typically, are all but invisible.

Technologies

Verum Messenger Introduces Built-In Verum Chess

Verum Messenger has released a new update for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, adding another feature to its growing ecosystem — Verum Chess. Users can now play chess directly inside the messenger without switching between different applications.

The new feature allows users to start a game in just a few taps while reinforcing Verum’s vision of a unified digital environment where communication and everyday services come together in a single platform.

Verum Messenger continues to evolve into a multifunctional ecosystem that combines secure chats and calls, AI tools, a built-in VPN, anonymous email, eSIM, financial services, cryptocurrency features, and offline communication. With the introduction of Verum Chess, the platform now also offers a new way for users to interact and spend time together without leaving the app.

The update is now available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac on the App Store.

Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

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Technologies

Verum Finance Now Available for Mac, Expanding the Verum Ecosystem on Desktop

Verum has officially released Verum Finance for macOS, bringing its financial platform to the Mac and expanding access to the Verum ecosystem across Apple’s devices. The launch allows users to manage their finances from desktop while enjoying the same secure and seamless experience available on iPhone and iPad.

The new Mac version includes the full range of Verum Finance features, including balance management, instant transfers to other Verum users, debit card management, Apple Pay support, asset exchange, and transaction history — all optimized for the macOS experience.

Verum Finance can be used as a standalone application or alongside Verum Messenger. Users who sign in with their Verum Messenger account automatically synchronize their balances, settings, and account data across devices, ensuring a consistent experience throughout the Verum ecosystem.

The macOS release further strengthens Verum’s vision of creating an integrated digital platform where communication and financial services work together. Verum Messenger, which is also available for Mac, complements the ecosystem with encrypted messaging, voice and video calls, VPN, eSIM, anonymous email, AI-powered tools, offline communication capabilities, and cryptocurrency features.

With both Verum Messenger and Verum Finance now available across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, users can access secure communication and financial services wherever they work.

Verum Finance for Mac is available now through the Mac App Store.

Verum Finance for macOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/verum-finance/id6774245148
Verum Finance: https://finance.verum.im
Verum Messenger: https://verum.im