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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.

Those cells belong to an aquatic plant called Elodea canadensis, it’s a pretty common waterweed and it can even be an invasive species. In the video you can see the cytoplasmic stream inside the cells of the plant. The small round dots moving around are the chloroplasts! Chloroplasts are small organelles that contain green chlorophyll pigments involved in photosynthesis! These pigments are able to capture energy from sunlight and convert it into energy the algae can use.
video
portrait
02:15
2022