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Analytical Instrumentation Facility

Pollen in North Carolina

April 14, 2021

Dr. Aaron Bell captured the images below using the Variable Pressure Scanning Electron Microscope. The Hitachi S3200N variable pressure scanning electron microscope (VPSEM) is a conventional high resolution thermionic SEM, which allows the operator to control the specimen chamber vacuum level.

  • Dogwood
  • Christmas Cactus
  • Easter Lily
  • Christmas Cactus
  • Easter Lily
  • Mystery Pollen
  • Pine
  • Bindweed
  • Pine and Bindweed
In April 2020, the RTNN Take-out Science program streamed a show that looked at all different types of pollen using a scanning electron microscope. See the show by clicking the YouTube link.

You can also find the link to the lesson plan here.

Chuck Mooney was curious about what the pollen that coats everything in early April looked like at high magnification.  The samples were collected from the hood of Chuck’s car.  Nanoscale details can be seen at high magnification.
Did you know?
There is a North Carolina Pollen lab! Click here to see the daily pollen reports for Raleigh.