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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 tree animals can be found around the globe, mainly in freshwater ponds and lakes but are also used in sewage treatment. A couple of marine species have also been found! Carchesium are cousins with Vorticella, which are both Peritrich ciliates, and share many characteristics: they’re both mainly sessile, possess an elongated contractile stalk, are bell shaped and eat lots of bacteria. Carchesium possess lots of tiny cilia creating a water vortex drawing food particles toward the colony. They usually eat bacteria, phytoplankton and debris that are floating around them.
video
portrait
01:51
2022