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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.

Golden algaes tend to bloom when water is cold and are often encountered during spring or autumn in freshwater ponds and lakes! These fluffy algae are named Synura and are colonial flagellates that possess golden-colored plastids used for photosynthesis. They bear some of the same pigments that are found in diatoms; chlorophyll c and fucoxanthin! Every little yellow sphere that compose the bigger yellow colony are single cell bearing two flagella used for locomotion.
video
portrait
01:44
2022