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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.

Pinnularia are motile diatoms that possess a raphe which is an elongated slit along the diatom‘s shell that secretes an adhesive mucilage that enables these glass made organisms to glide on a surface. Diatoms are unicellular microalgae encased in a self-assembled porous silica shell named frustule. They’re basically made of glass, since silica is the main component of glass! They’re found all over the world in freshwater, marine and terrestrial habitats. They are a highly diverse group and can be found floating around or attached to various animals such as ciliates, Copepods, Daphnias, barnacles, hydroids, krill and even on whales!
video
portrait
01:53
2022