PrakashLab

(2/n) The project was lead by an absolutely incredible graduate student @deepak_me90 and also included "maker at heart" @hongquan_li, "software factory" Francois Benoit, Pierre Cambournac & "master-levitator" Adam Larson. This is really a dream team #GravityMachine. Congrats teampic.twitter.com/kOJ02PaAj0

(3/n) It all began with a paradox: can we observe microscopic processes (um scale) in ecological context (km)? We crack this problem - a scale-free vertical tracking microscopy - with 7 orders of magnitude range. Every time we turn it ON, our eyes are wide open! see proof below.pic.twitter.com/IrqxEj9je5

(4/n) This incredible journey to the depths of the ocean begins in swamps of Madagascar. More on that later! But first why should you care about life - so small its invisible to naked eye - in the ocean. Because 1/2 the oxygen you breadth comes from tiny plankton in the ocean.pic.twitter.com/pERKgphEOg

(5/n) Moreover, almost 1/2 half of the carbon emitted by our society is absorbed by the ocean - literally a process that keeps us alive - by marine detritus sinking several km to the bottom of the ocean. Ever wondered what happens during the long journey?pic.twitter.com/DWudXP80vh

(6/n) Several years ago, @deepak_me90 and I found ourselves in swamps of Madagascar, chasing parasites. We were neck deep in infested waters; and realized no tools existed to understand distribution of microscopic single cells at the scale of a pond, let alone the entire ocean.pic.twitter.com/3Ctog5PQcy

(7/n) Returning back we pondered over this question for a long time - and just like that; sitting in the office one day - @deepak_me90 and I cracked it. We realized a circular chamber filled with fluid has no beginning or end - hence was born a "hydrodynamic treadmill".pic.twitter.com/IuVF7uBlcJ

(8/n) Its one thing to come up with an idea; its another to believe in it to drop everything and execute. We all thought about this analytically for a while (see supplementary) - and played with plenty of hola loops to convince ourselves that it was time to build #GravityMachine.pic.twitter.com/853mHG5ua5

(9/n) Ever wondered how things fall? Say what happens to a raindrops falling down or pencil leads? Or a sugar cube falling and dissolving in your coffee right now - so as it disappear? Wonder no more, you can see it for yourself.pic.twitter.com/64pBxwSoZ9

(10/n) Next - we started by observing plankton and collected in the middle of the night (diel migration). Thanks to all the marine stations, fisherman that provided us with a roof, safety and free coffee; specially @HopkinsMarine and Isla Magueyes, Puerto Rico.pic.twitter.com/8DzTAYuiUV

(11/n) Here is a collection of a widest group of invertebrate larvae - watching them swim forever - as if in an unbounded ocean. Every time we put a new species, we are up for a surprise.pic.twitter.com/7BxRxty86h

(12/n) And what about the marine snow - microscopic form that is literally saving the planet. Here is a first glimpse ever of marine snow dynamics falling forever; you can watch the circulation, and also a radiolarian hitching a ride on a journey to the depth of the ocean.pic.twitter.com/8l9owpW0Zu

(13/n) Here is our favorite star; starfish P. miniate demonstrating stereotypical behavior - we call them blinks. Watching these videos, we are transported into an imaginary world sitting in a microscopic submarine, hitching a ride along these beautiful creatures.pic.twitter.com/65frtdRNZV

(14/n) Now what about the organisms that seemingly have no appendages to swim - say diatoms. The best way of describing this - @deepak_me90 and I always call this a "what the hell" slide. Incredible density fluctuations that governs height in tracked single diatoms.pic.twitter.com/D2Hnt2gSvE

(15/n) This paper was a tour-de-force; I want to extend the thanks for all the Prakazoans (what PrakashLab members are affectionally called) who actively participated tracking and collecting data - those long days tracking these datasets. Everyone still smiling after no sleep.pic.twitter.com/x0a7YRtHcI