Researchers at the Loch Ness Centre in Scotland have teamed up with academics from the University of Aberdeen to use a state-of-the-art holographic camera, known as the weeHoloCam, to study the microscopic organisms inhabiting the famous loch. This cutting-edge technology has never been used in Loch Ness before and has already captured images of what appear to be “micro-monsters” but are actually plankton particles. The team hopes that by analyzing these images, they can gain a better understanding of the biodiversity of Loch Ness. The project aims to combine scientific exploration with the myths and legends surrounding the Loch Ness monster, encouraging researchers to delve deeper into the mysteries of the lake.
Researchers photograph ‘micro-monster’ organisms living in Loch Ness
The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week – from controversial columns to expert analysis
Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns
Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter
Researchers are using new cutting-edge tools to better understand the ecosystem of Scotland’s most famous loch.
The Loch Ness Centre has joined forces with academics based at the School of Engineering at the University of Aberdeen for a project they say is a significant step forward in a scientific exploration of the lake.
The team deployed a state-of-the-art holographic camera to examine the many microscopic organisms that inhabit the body of water.
Dubbed the weeHoloCam, the technology can produce several thousand digital holographic images of microscopic marine organisms in one dive and uses the latest AI techniques to classify the images.
The weeHoloCam has never before been used on Loch Ness and after its initial dive captured incredible images of what look like “micro-monsters”, but are plankton particles.
A state-of-the-art holographic camera has been used to look at the many microscopic organisms that inhabit Loch Ness (Yui Mok/PA) (PA Archive)
“This was a unique opportunity for us to deploy the weeHoloCam into fresh water, as it has previously only been used in ocean salt water,” Thangavel Thevar, from the University of Aberdeen said.
“We were curious as to what the water quality would be like, especially at lower depths, as we know that too much peat could obstruct the recording path of the instrument”
“We lowered the camera to around 200 metres and were able to see lots of interesting particles which, by working with biologists, should be able to give us more information about the biodiversity of Loch Ness.”
Is Nessie the sea monster actually real?
“At the centre, we present the whole story about Loch Ness – the science and the myths, and as part of that ongoing effort we want to encourage researchers to come here and to find out more about what is in the loch, because there is so much we don’t know,” Nagina Ishaq, general manager of the Loch Ness Centre, said.
“One of the applications was from the University of Aberdeen using the weeHoloCam and it really jumped out at us as something we wanted to pursue.”
“It has been really exciting having the team here and we look forward to working with them further as they study Loch Ness on a microbial level to see what can be learned.”
Aerial view of Loch Ness (Getty Images)
This year marks 90 years since adventurer Sir Edward Mountain and his team of 20 explorers became the first “watchers” of the fabled Loch Ness monster that is said to inhabit the water.
The new project follows the Loch Ness Centre’s latest giant search of the water as it continues pursuit towards uncovering the loch’s mysteries.
As part of the recent search, a hydrophone was used to listen for mysterious sounds echoing from the depths of the loch.
Alan McKenna, from Loch Ness Exploration, captured a unique noise using the hydrophone to be analysed, describing it as “a rhythmic pulsing sound that lasted about 10 seconds”.
Read the full story on www.independent.co.uk
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/loch-ness-micro-monster-photograph-b2601749.html