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Some would argue that creepy crawlies are small for a reason.
However, a new app from the Science Photo Library allows users to literally zoom in on some of the world's tiniest creatures, admiring stunning artistry and science breakthroughs at the same time.
Over 550 insects have been captured using Scanning Electron Microscope technology before being compiled on the Mini Monsters app, available for £1.99 on 12 September from Apple's App Store, in a venture which sees the SPL make their vast collection of photographs more accessible.
Speaking to Wired.co.uk, Gary Evans and Simon Stone from the SPL explained behind the images: "In the past magnified photos have been taken through microscopes. However there have been problems with the light quality and sharpness of these images. With SEM technology, an electron beam is fired at a subject and what is reflected back off it forms an image. You can get incredible magnifications from this process."
The insects were dead before being coated in gold to prevent static and then put in a vacuum before undergoing SEM imaging at the hands of electron microscopist Steve Gschmeissner. The resultant photos, for example of a fly's eye, allow viewers to magnify an image up to 1,000x larger than in reality.
Stone said, "The images have a beautiful, rich depth of field.
It's almost like they are in 3D, they truly look like monsters on screen."
As well as showcasing hundreds of amazing images, the app has a search option, which can be filtered by diet, flight ability and threat to humans, and educational captions to accompany each picture. Along with common insects like the fly, spider and earthworm, more unusual creatures like the spittlebug and the waterbear are also pictured.
Stone and Evans explain that it's aimed as an educational tool for children. However, we wouldn't mind getting our hands on it.
Wired.co.uk has an exclusive preview of some of the app's images in our gallery below, don't miss them!
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
