landscape
video
01:42
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.

These beautiful red microalgae are called Euglena sanguinea and are found all over the world in eutrophic freshwater habitats. They remind Chloé of blood oranges, they even look like they have pulps! Along with Euglena sanguinea there were lots of other microalgae like the yellow flower-like Synura, some dinoflagellates and lots of cool rotifers I’ll be posting about soon! What is so special about Euglena sanguinea is that it has the ability to turn from green to red in only 8 minutes and from red to green in about 20 minutes! The accumulation of red carotenoid astaxanthin pigments in the cell is caused by chronic environmental stress conditions such as high UV radiations.
video
landscape
01:42
2022