When we entered, the docent explained that Micropia is a bridge between the scientific community and the public. It was established because the knowledge about microbes was held by scientists and not well understood by the public. We were instructed to get a stamp of the microbe at each station and promised that at the end we’d be able to do something with it.

Every single part of the experience was intentional. 

The docent waved a key card in front of the elevator which had no buttons. It opened and we entered a deep black freight-sized elevator also with no buttons. The door closed. The ceiling of the elevator had been removed and 2 stories above a video played of eyelash mites and the microbes that live on the mites. As we rose inexorably closer, the mites got bigger and bigger. Then I worried about my mascara. But I still wasn’t worried about my toothbrush or floss picks or fixing dinner.

When the elevator opened, it was dark. Each exhibit was lit internally. After examining a DNA family tree showing how we all share some DNA, we moved onto the first of many Zeiss microscopes.

Each microscope had live microbes under it. To the right of the microscope there was an interactive panel with tabs: more details on the microbe – almost a product description, a claymation or flash video showing the impact of the virus were two of the tabs. One video explained thrips and nematodes. Thrips are an insect that strips leaves and flowers of their top layer causing leaf drop. If you put nematodes (a microbe) in the water, they enter the thrip, secrete a bacteria which dissolves the thrip’s insides. Then the nematode eats the thrip from the inside out. The plant can regenerate over time.

Microphotographs of each bacteria and virus appeared enlarged to gigantic proportions so we could see it. (The following photographs are iPhone photos that I took through the microscope lens of someone else’s micro photographs so I have not added my copyright. There was no credit at the museum so I don’t know who the unsung hero(es) are.)

At each station, I collected a stamp. Eventually I was able to put my passport under a light and see a 2 story version of each beast displayed across maybe 20 screens mounted on a wall. They were simultaneously hideous and beautiful. I was fascinated and horrified. Imagine each of these images at least 1 story tall.