We scanned  the slide for signs of life.  At first there were some odd bits of organic debris. Then… wow!  Zooming zooplankton flitted across our view. They were far too quick to identify. We started to focus on the phytoplankton. Teal had a strong interest in harmful phytoplankton, and we were able to identify a few Pseudonitchia.  A curious shape appeared in Teal’s eyepiece. Its long thin, rectangular cells were arranged in a radiating pattern like a star or snowflake. A diatom! A Thalassionema nitzschiodes, more specifically. These phytoplankton have cell walls made of translucent opaline silica – literally houses made of glass. Astonishing!