# A polarized light micrograph of physiological saline crystals

- By: Janeklass
- Date: 2026-01-21
- Classification: Photograph
- Museum: [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_polarized_light_micrograph_of_physiological_saline_crystals.jpg)
- Rights: [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
- Picture: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/A_polarized_light_micrograph_of_physiological_saline_crystals.jpg/1920px-A_polarized_light_micrograph_of_physiological_saline_crystals.jpg
- Who can see it: Teens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

A micrograph displaying the crystal structures formed from the evaporation of physiological saline (0.9% sodium chloride solution). The liquid was allowed to slowly crystallize, resulting in a colorful, sweeping, and detailed landscape viewed under the microscope. The image was captured using polarized light, which highlights the birefringence of the crystals and creates vivid interference colors (deep blues, greens, and yellows) dependent on the thickness and orientation of the crystal layers. The photo was taken using an 8x objective and the focus stacking technique to ensure sharpness across the complex structures.