by Claire O'Neill

A hummingbird pollinates an orchid.

A hummingbird assists in the pollination of an orchid. (Christian Ziegler/National Geographic)

Although cameras keep getting bigger and better, there are still some things that they just can't capture — mainly the things that are smaller. In National Geographic's December issue, Swiss molecular biologist Martin Oeggerli used a scanning electron microscope to look at grains of pollen. The 3-D images, originally black-and-white, and then enhanced with color, look oddly alien. And I hate to say it — because I hate pollen — but they're surprisingly pretty.

  • Forget-me-not pollen
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    Forget-me-not pollen
    Martin Oeggerli/National Geographic
  • Forget-me-nots
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    Forget-me-nots
    by Flickr user dawnzy58
  • Wedged between two flower petals, this grain of willow pollen missed the mark and will die.
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    Wedged between two flower petals, this grain of willow pollen missed the mark and will die.
    Martin Oeggerli/National Geographic
  • Blowing willow
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    Blowing willow
    by Flickr user waldenpond
  • Persian silk tree pollen
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    Persian silk tree pollen
    Martin Oeggerli/National Geographic
  • Persian silk tree
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    Persian silk tree
    by Flickr user OliBac
  • Indian mallow pollen
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    Indian mallow pollen
    Martin Oeggerli/National Geographic
  • Indian mallow
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    Indian mallow
    by Flickr user TANAKA Juuyoh
  • A convoluted surface of this flowering quince pollen grain helps to speed up moisture absorption, which is key in fertilization.
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    A convoluted surface of this flowering quince pollen grain helps to speed up moisture absorption, which is key in fertilization.
    Martin Oeggerli/National Geographic
  • Flowering quince
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    Flowering quince
    by Flickr user Lizbeth*King
  • This pollen, from a pine, is what you find covering your car windshield in the spring.
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    This pollen, from a pine, is what you find covering your car windshield in the spring.
    Martin Oeggerli/National Geographic
  • Pine tree
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    Pine tree
    by Flickr user FreeWine
  • Although the grain size, like those on this geranium, is measured in millionths of a meter, but the grains have an epic journey for pollination.
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    Although the grain size, like those on this geranium, is measured in millionths of a meter, but the grains have an epic journey for pollination.
    Martin Oeggerli/National Geographic
  • Geraniums
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    Geraniums
    by Flickr user kretyen
  • White clover pollen
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    White clover pollen
    Martin Oeggerli/National Geographic
  • White clover
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    White clover
    by Flickr user cliff1066 tm

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Check out the article and the photo gallery to learn more about the epic journey of pollen — through the air and throughout history.

Also check out this story about the pollination of orchids:

In Partnership With National Geographic

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