The rest of it
Filaments of Spirogyra, a green algae. They are among the myriads algae species which together make a major contribution to the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere. The engines, the chlorophyl helices, are visible inside the tubes.
The filaments tubes are smooth and have a beautiful tactile feel, hence the name "water silk". They are finer than human hair, depending on the species around 30 micrometers in diameter.
The 3d-appearance of microscope images here is due to Differential Interference Contrast, DIC. The colors are just a warholisque play - a digital simulation of another technique, the Jamin-Lebedeff interference.
The filaments tubes are smooth and have a beautiful tactile feel, hence the name "water silk". They are finer than human hair, depending on the species around 30 micrometers in diameter.
The 3d-appearance of microscope images here is due to Differential Interference Contrast, DIC. The colors are just a warholisque play - a digital simulation of another technique, the Jamin-Lebedeff interference.