Michael Benson’s upcoming book, “Nanocosmos: Journeys in Electron Space,” promises to take readers on a breathtaking visual journey into the unseen world of microscopic wonders. This stunning coffee table book (published by Abrams Books in 2025) showcases the artistry found within the tiniest realms, magnified through the power of scanning electron microscopes (SEM).
Benson, an accomplished author, artist, documentarian, and visual effects filmmaker, has curated hundreds of SEM scans taken over six years at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Quebec. The result is a mesmerizing collection of images revealing intricate details hidden from the naked eye.
This exploration isn’t confined to Earthly marvels; “Nanocosmos” features captivating glimpses into lunar landscapes as well. Two exclusive images shared from the book highlight the extraordinary textures and patterns found within moon rock samples collected by the Apollo 16 mission. These diminutive fragments, brought back from space, are transformed into objects of mesmerizing beauty when viewed at such a minuscule scale.
The book’s description emphasizes the unexpected intricacy found in these magnified worlds: “These tiny worlds, invisible to our unassisted eyes, are if anything more intricate, complex and extraordinary than anything so far seen in deep space.” Alongside lunar samples, readers will encounter captivating micro-portraits of radiolarians, dinoflagellates, diatoms, insects, miniature flowers, and much more.
Of particular interest is the inclusion of lunar impact glass – a mesmerizing material formed when meteoroids slam into the moon’s surface, melting regolith (loose surface material) into molten droplets that instantly cool upon flight, creating glassy beads and shards. These images offer a unique window into the dynamic processes shaping our celestial neighbors.
Through the masterful fusion of art and science embodied in “Nanocosmos,” Benson invites us to rediscover wonder in the seemingly mundane and to marvel at the exquisite beauty woven into the fabric of our universe—visible only when peering through the lens of scientific exploration.
