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Chloé Savard is a Montreal-based artist and microbiologist. Originally trained as a musician, she turned to microbiology as a way to explore new scientific and creative perspectives. Under the pseudonym @tardibabe on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, she uses a microscope and her iPhone to capture striking images and videos of microorganisms—transforming drops of water into mesmerizing visual landscapes. Her work blends art and science, revealing the hidden beauty and complexity of microscopic ecosystems while raising awareness about their fragility.
Her unique approach has earned her two honorable mentions in the 2022 Nikon Small World In Motion competition. She has also showcased her work at events like the SPHÈRE Festival at Canada’s National Arts Centre. Through collaborations with scientific and cultural institutions, Chloé shares her discoveries with a wide audience, helping to democratize microbiology and inspire a new generation of observers of the invisible world.

All members of the Cladocera group possess a single black compound eye (with a few exceptions) attached by a muscle that controls it. During embryonic development, the organism has two eyes that merge together to create a single one! The dark colour of the eye is due to the presence of accessory pigments like melanin that hide the actual photoreceptive pigment which is a nearly colourless purple.
Cladocerans tend to flee strong light or be attracted by it when the intensity is reduced. It has been shown that the muscles that control the eye movements also transfer the stimulus to the antennae muscles which are responsible to change the direction of the body.
Cladocerans like Daphnia can detect polarized light, UV light and coloured light! Light reflected by algae and other food particles is polarized and strongly attracts Daphnia. Different species of cladocerans have also shown to be attracted by different colours (so different wavelengths). Most of them are strongly attracted to orange light while some prefer green, blue or violet!
video
portrait
02:07
2022