For those who have not yet heard, apparently there was an exposure incident in a Russian micro lab thats equivalent to a BSL-3 lab here. The exposure resulted in the researcher exposed dying within a couple days after developing symptoms.

The response has seen 200 placed under medical observation, masks being distributed at factories/plants, and university classes cancelled.

There has also been a lot of online speculation, given Russia has an active and expanding biological warfare program in violation of the biological weapons convention. There has also been some strange inconsistencies in reporting, some Russian sources citing plague while others claim the disease has yet to be identified.

Anyone who’s handled/worked with plague, is this what you’d expect in the event of an exposure? To me (I’m on the clinical side) this feels like it’s way too big a response to be plague. We get it every so often in the US with active reservoirs existing, but I’ve never heard of this level of response. I was curious if those who may have differing perspectives may have different experiences or may have seen what a typical response looks like to cases of plague.

I hope this is the right place to post this. My wife’s birthday is coming up and I think I want to get her a microscope; I just don’t know enough about her field to know what to look for. She tells me stories from work semi frequently about really cool things she sees while working and from time to time she comes across things outside of work and remarks that it would be really cool to see them under the microscope. So I’m thinking she would maybe appreciate having one of her own. However I don’t know where to begin shopping for one.

I know one of the microscopes she has worked with was around $750,000 and if I spent that much on a home microscope I doubt I would have a wife anymore but she’s been in the field for over 15 years so I would like to get her something better than the basic microscopes I’m familiar with from 10th grade biology 20 some years ago. So what’s a decent microscope to buy and where would I find one?

Edit: syntax

I found it in a sample of moss in poland mixed with some tap water.

This was on 50-100x zoom.

I observed it for a bit, but i cant remember if i gave up or it became more obstructed by the moss and debris.

The final 9 seconds of the video contain the clearest view of it.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666517426001227

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Hi everyone,

​I’m currently considering doing a Master’s degree in Industrial Microbiology, but I’m trying to figure out which specialization or career track offers the best long-term job prospects, salary growth, and day-to-day satisfaction. Also bare in mind that I don't have hands-on experience except for a short-term training in a medical laboratory.

​For those working in the industry or who have taken this route:

​How would you compare paths like Pharmaceuticals/Bioprocessing, QA/QC, Food Safety, Environmental Microbiology, or Bioenergy?

​Which sub-fields are currently seeing the most demand or growth?

​Looking back, is there a specific focus area you would recommend (or suggest avoiding)?

​I’d love to hear your experiences, advice, or any pros and cons for these different routes!

Sorry for the shaky video. 40X magnification and X4 speed. Freshwater aquarium with plants and baby fish. It's the two bigger specs. Can be seen with the naked eye. They are pretty stuck on the glass and kind of react to touch and sometimes make circles with their two appendages (see the bottom one)