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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.

All of the organisms from this videos are ciliates, unicellular organisms covered with thousands of small cilia, which are short hair-like structures they use to move and feed themselves. The green one is from the Hypotrich group and is probably an Oxytricha chlorelligera! It lives in collocation with Chlorella, a green algae, hence the name of its species. These little green algae sysnthesize sugars, a precious source of energy, by using light, water and carbon dioxide, which is a process called photosynthesis. Part of these sugars are then transferred to their ciliate host in exchange of a well suited habitat and protection against algae eaters and diverse pathogens.
video
portrait
01:59
2022