Have you ever wondered what sort of microscopic critters are floating around in your water? Well, you can find out with just a few bucks worth of materials and a laser pointer. Really. That's all it takes to build your very own homemade laser projection microscope, aka a water drop projector.
Materials
- Syringe
- Tape
- Laser pointer
- Wall (to project the image onto)
- Stand
Some people have made their stands with styrofoam or wood. As long as it can support a syringe, it should be fine.
Step 1: The Stand
Put your stand together. It should have a steady base and extend high enough to hold an upright syringe.
![634795148119003209.jpg](https://assets.content.technologyadvice.com/634795148119003209_18ea8b8b9e.webp)
Then, tape or otherwise secure the syringe to your stand, pointing downwards. Make sure to leave enough room for your laser pointer below. You will be shining the laser through a drop of water that will be suspended from the bottom of the needle, so construct accordingly.
Here's a more elaborate version:
![634797816667329050.jpg](https://assets.content.technologyadvice.com/634797816667329050_e578339e6e.webp)
Step 2: The Syringe
Fill the syringe up with some dirty water.
![634797817410982356.jpg](https://assets.content.technologyadvice.com/634797817410982356_0da6833472.webp)
The dirtier the water, the cooler the final effect will look. Then, very slowly press the top until a drop of water is hanging from the tip.
Step 3: The Laser
Finally, shine your laser pointer through the water at a blank wall. Adjust the needle and laser so that they are close together as possible, with the laser centered on the water droplet. Adjust the setup until it projects a large image.
![634795152355190650.jpg](https://assets.content.technologyadvice.com/634795152355190650_439c212643.webp)
The things you see moving about are actually tiny organisms living in the water!
![634797818563044380.jpg](https://assets.content.technologyadvice.com/634797818563044380_8a003848de.webp)
For an example of the laser microscope in action, check out the video below. As you can probably tell, either a green or red laser will work.
An optional final step would be to find a cat to amaze with this science trick.
The website of the original creator, Teravolt, no longer works, but you can read up on a few of his quick notes here. For a more elaborate version inspired by Teravolt's original build, check out Sean Michael Ragan's DIY laser projection microscope.
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