landscape
video
02:16
2022
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.

Here are some black worms Chloé found in a mountain pond sample! She put them under polarized light to make them glow as if they were raving. They’re mainly found in North America and Europe in freshwater ponds, lakes and marshes especially in shallow water in sediments or decaying leaves. They’re known to be decomposers as they feed on organic matter but they also nom on microbes!
Black worms belong to the annelid worm group and more precisely the oligochaete worms, just as earthworms! Oligochaete worms are segmented animals, meaning that their body is made of small repetitive units and all of them possess a pair of primitive kidneys and components of circulatory and nervous system. Primitive kidneys are essential to remove wastes from blood and the body cavity. The different segments also bear a pair of bristles, called setae, which are use to anchor the worm when moving around. But to move around so easily by crawling on surfaces also means muscles are needed! Circular and longitudinal muscles are here to help these worms to lengthen and contract all of their segments to be able to stretch forward and eat all of the food!
video
landscape
02:16
2022