If seeing is believing, then we have a very small fraction of the world to believe in. It’s true that we miss much of what’s available to be seen as a result of our brain not wanting to give us more than we can handle. Carnegie Mellon University psychology and neuroscience assistant professor Timothy Verstynen asserts that as much as 90% of what we “see” could be fabricated by our brains. Compared with the limited version of reality we’ve grown accustomed to, processing the inessential would likely be paralyzing — or just plain weird.
Trippy perception theories aside, cutting-edge photographic technology has given us a window into realms previously unknown to human perception — and we’re not just talking about faraway planets brought to our smartphone screens by NASA. Nikon’s Small World Photomicrography Competition has given us an inside look into a world hidden right before our very eyes. The best part? You can experience these micro-worlds for as long or as little as you like.
Check out the slideshow above to see the competition winners as well the most mind-bending runner-ups.
Screenshots of the man talking to the camera and with his momTikTok | 
Screenshots of the bakery Image Source: TikTok | 
A woman hands out food to a homeless personCanva
A female artist in her studioCanva
A woman smiling in front of her computerCanva 
A woman holds a cup of coffee while looking outside her windowCanva 
A woman flexes her bicepCanva 
A woman cooking in her kitchenCanva 
Two women console each otherCanva 
Two women talking to each otherCanva 
Two people having a lively conversationCanva 
Two women embrace in a hugCanva 
A reddit commentReddit | 
A Reddit commentReddit | 
A Reddit commentReddit | 
Stressed-out employee stares at their computerCanva
Who knows what adventures the bottle had before being discovered. 
Gif of young girl looking at someone suspiciously via 
A bartender makes a drinkCanva