A Voyage through the Micro-Verse to Save Life on Planet Earth

“Stay with the ship,” I tell Barron Wolfe as Lyra, Gyro, Rand and I hop from Cyclops’ deck onto the lowest platform of the Microsian colony, the nearest thing to a dock that I have seen since our departure from Duckweed Base.   I tighten the strap of my satchel, feeling the weight of its contents resting against my hip.   I signal to Rand, indicating for him to lead the way.   To my right, there is no partition or seawall to prevent an accidental misstep and tumble into the enclosed sea, or to prevent waves from flooding into the city – an obvious contrast to seaside communities from our world.   But of course, there are no waves on this sea, and no tides.   Other than Cyclops the waterfront is devoid of other boats or vessels.   I reckon that if the Microsians make use of watercraft, such vessels would be submarine in nature, and are harbored below us, in some manner of underwater harbor.    The multitude of Microsians observe...

  Day 12: 1015 hours... The celluloid is rolling! We are now several days into the production of a moving picture documentary. When complete, our film will feature the numerous kinds of microscopic organisms found throughout the pond. The recent acquisition of several oxygen-producing algal protists has extended how long we can remain submerged, allowing for lengthier observations… and more time to “get the shot,” as they say. We are currently navigating our way through the dense and occasionally treacherous weedy shallows – treacherous because navigation is more hazardous, and one never knows what micro-denizens may lurk in the shadows of this aquatic jungle. Because of the abundant aquatic plant life for shelter, and plentiful sunlight, this region offers safe haven for a rich diversity of microorganisms.   Again and again we see, whilst filming, the relationship between hunter organisms – and organisms that graze. The hunters, or predators, capture and ...

1430 hours... To our great delight, Lyra discovers a single greenish cell wedged firmly in the ship’s rudder assembly – the strange malfunction of our steering and elevator systems now demystified.   When she attempts to free the organism with a length of hemp line the protist takes her on a merry jaunt as she grasps the tether with all her strength. “And there she goes!” reports Gyro, as Lyra and the green beastie streak past the windows of the wheelhouse, looking for all the world like a micro-scaled reenactment of a nineteenth century Nantucket sleigh ride.   “Let go, Lyra, for heaven’s sake!” he shouts in vain at the drama beyond the glass.   “Why doesn’t she just let go?” “Because that simple and elegant solution,” I mutter, “would be far too convenient!   I suspect that our young biologist has reckoned that the organism is worthy of closer study – and once she sets her mind to such a task…” “All well and good,” raged the concerne...

Day 9: 0530 hours… Dawn is breaking.  Last night we anchored the ship to a decaying aquatic weed stem, about two hundred twenty centimeters depth – all hands glad for the respite after our adventure on the surface.  I am pleased to report that the night passed uneventfully.  As I enjoy my mug of coffee on the observation level of the pilothouse the faceted dome reveals the first sunrays piercing the pond’s depths.  Through the heavy leaded glass warm watery light strikes green algal protists, which illuminate into iridescent emeralds.   And there are thousands upon thousands of them all around us, creating an ever-changing green waterscape that extends in all directions to the furthest visible distance.  This harmless multitude is to other single-celled pond organisms what grass is to the herding beasts of the African Serengeti – food in abundance.  I am admittedly curious about the organisms that rely ...

  Moving diatom oil to the stranded Cyclops Day 8: 1600 hours… Excerpt from Engine Master’s Log With each arm’s length of hemp line released I watched Captain Adler and Lyra slowly descend and disappear down the dim interior of the plant’s hollow shaft.    I had let out about one and a half centimeters of the rope when the resistance suddenly ceased.   Attached to the block, the fishing bell alarm made no sound.   I could only assume that the skipper and Lyra came to rest somewhere down there, hopefully at a depth where they might easily collect and harvest the diatom oil that we need to get back to our mission.   Had I been granted more time to prepare for this excursion it would not have been overly difficult to rig a telegraph or a simple voice pipe to allow for basic communication between myself and the descent team.   But as I am reminded by the gigantic insects emerging around us, time was short.   The fishing be...

Day 8: 1415 hours… Diatoms, Lyra informs me, are a very common and successful alga, and I am glad to hear it.   The sooner we begin harvesting them for their oil, the sooner we will be out of danger.   Lyra continues her diatomaceous diatribe, revealing that this family of algae has been on Earth approximately two hundred million years.   It is adapted to fresh and saltwater environments, and is most noted for the houses of glass that enclose each single-celled individual.   Diatoms thrive in the sunlit water just beneath the surface, where conditions are ideal for photosynthesis and nutrient absorption.   Lyra suggests that we would likely find all the diatoms we need clinging to the stems of aquatic reeds and grasses.   “Sounds like we have a classic paradox,” announces Barron.   “The oil we need to break the surface tension is with the diatoms… below the surface that we can’t penetrate without the oil.” “I have a thought...