Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I thought I was looking at bacteria. I was wrong . . . or was I?
When I saw thousands of tiny organisms swarming through my microscope field, I assumed I knew what I was looking at. But something didn’t feel right. The movement. The speed. The behavior. This wasn’t what bacteria looked like—at least not the bacteria I’ve spent years observing.
What followed was two days of microscope sleuthing, hypothesis testing, and even a bit of chemistry to slow the organisms down and finally uncover the truth. Were they bacteria? Ciliates? Or something even smaller and stranger?
This is the story of how I solved a micro mystery.
UPDATE: Thanks to a commenter on the video who pointed out that rotating flagella do not belong to Eukaryotes, but to Prokaryotes. This means that my conclusion that these are flagellates is, of course, correct. But my conclusion that they are not bacteria is NOT correct. These are most likely flagellated bacteria. I'll be putting out a video soon discussing the differences in how flagella are constructed and operate between prokaryotes and eukaryotes -- stay tuned!
🔬 Want to understand how microorganisms move through water?
Watch: Water feels normal to us, but like HONEY to microorganisms!
👉 youtu.be/gaUfm4kLyB0
———
👁🗨 More Micro Mysteries:
If you enjoy solving the mysteries of the microcosmos, I hope you’ll consider subscribing. I post real microscopy footage, science explanations, and the occasional deep dive into the oddities of pond life.
💬 Questions or ideas for future videos? Drop them in the comments—I’d love to hear from you.
Visit my website: thaimicrocosmos.com
#microscopy #microbiology #protists #flagellates #microcosmos
I thought I was looking at bacteria. I was wrong . . . or was I?
When I saw thousands of tiny organisms swarming through my microscope field, I assumed I knew what I was looking at. But something didn’t feel right. The movement. The speed. The behavior. This wasn’t what bacteria looked like—at least not the bacteria I’ve spent years observing.
What followed was two days of microscope sleuthing, hypothesis testing, and even a bit of chemistry to slow the organisms down and finally uncover the truth. Were they bacteria? Ciliates? Or something even smaller and stranger?
This is the story of how I solved a micro mystery.
UPDATE: Thanks to a commenter on the video who pointed out that rotating flagella do not belong to Eukaryotes, but to Prokaryotes. This means that my conclusion that these are flagellates is, of course, correct. But my conclusion that they are not bacteria is NOT correct. These are most likely flagellated bacteria. I'll be putting out a video soon discussing the differences in how flagella are constructed and operate between prokaryotes and eukaryotes -- stay tuned!
🔬 Want to understand how microorganisms move through water?
Watch: Water feels normal to us, but like HONEY to microorganisms!
👉 youtu.be/gaUfm4kLyB0
———
👁🗨 More Micro Mysteries:
If you enjoy solving the mysteries of the microcosmos, I hope you’ll consider subscribing. I post real microscopy footage, science explanations, and the occasional deep dive into the oddities of pond life.
💬 Questions or ideas for future videos? Drop them in the comments—I’d love to hear from you.
Visit my website: thaimicrocosmos.com
#microscopy #microbiology #protists #flagellates #microcosmos
