Winners of the Nikon Small World video contest, which captures the microscopic world, including 'Volvox swimming in a hole in a 50-yen coin,' will be announced

Nikon Small World is a video and photo contest for capturing the microscopic world on a microscopic level. The winners of the 2025 video category, the ' 2025 Small World in Motion Competition ,' were announced on September 24, 2025.

2025 Small World in Motion Competition | Nikon Small World
https://www.nikonsmallworld.com/galleries/2025-small-world-in-motion-competition

15th Annual Nikon Small World in Motion Competition Winner Magnifies Self-Pollination Process in a Common Wildflower | News | Nikon Small World
https://www.nikonsmallworld.com/news/swim-2025

◆1st place: Self-pollination in a flower of thymeleaf speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia)
The first place winner is a work that records the self-pollination of a Japanese stag beetle . The stamens are clearly recorded moving vigorously towards the pistil.

Self-pollination in a flower of thymeleaf speedwell | 2025 Nikon Small World - YouTube


◆2nd place: Volvox algae swimming in water drop that has been pipetted into the central opening of a Japanese 50 Yen Coin
The second place winner was a video of Volvox swimming through a hole in a 50 yen coin. At the beginning of the video, Volvox is shown swimming in the water in large size, and the magnification gradually decreases, revealing that it was swimming inside the hole in the 50 yen coin.

Volvox algae swimming in a water drop in a Japanese 50 Yen Coin | 2025 Nikon Small World - YouTube


◆3rd place: Actin and mitochondria in mouse brain tumor cells
The third place winner was a work capturing the movement of actin and mitochondria in mouse brain tumor cells.

Actin and mitochondria in mouse brain tumor cells | 2025 Nikon Small World - YouTube


◆4th place: A tardigrade moving around a volvox algae colony
The fourth place winner was a photo of a tardigrade moving over a Volvox colony. It moves around smoothly and with a sluggish gait.

A tardigrade moving around a volvox algae colony | 2025 Nikon Small World - YouTube


◆5th place: A newborn sea urchin walking along the seabed
Coming in at number 5 is a video recording a newborn sea urchin walking. It uses its spines, which don't seem to hurt it, to make a squishy walk.

A newborn sea urchin walking along the seabed | 2025 Nikon Small World - YouTube


Check out the other great works in the playlist below:

2025 Small World in Motion Competition | Nikon Small World - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb-EWw1bYXPljNoN_e32wk6Lba1kfW2Mp