I use scanning electron microscopes as part of my graduate work. Request a photo or AMA

I'm a metallurgical engineer and several projects I've worked on have involved SEM analysis. Most of the samples I've professionally analyzed have been minerals and metals, but as a hobby I look at biological samples because the microstructure of nature is cool as hell.

AMA about how SEMs work, their capabilities, sample prep, or what they're used for. If there's something you really want to see at 10,000x+ magnification, request it and I will try to have a look if it is feasible.

Some pictures I've taken recently:

http://imgur.com/4n4Ix.jpg Some kind of jumping spider that I found on my desk.

http://imgur.com/DY3uH.jpg Spider skin and hair at medium magnification.

http://imgur.com/3THYv.jpg End of the spider's foot.

http://imgur.com/uYlmC.jpg One of his or her central eyes.

http://imgur.com/aOXd0.jpg Front left hand of a rainbow skink.

http://imgur.com/9JR9t.jpg Compound eye of a moth.

http://imgur.com/qb6pa.jpg Closer up of the compound eye.

http://imgur.com/sKiqV.jpg An individual ommatidium (1 of the hexes) of the compound eye.

http://imgur.com/ci1yc.jpg Feathery back end of the moth.

http://imgur.com/xSbxM.jpg Several ion exchange resin beads in epoxy.

edit: you guys and your sperm. I'm not doing sperm.

edit 2: I've got time booked next Thursday morning. I'm planning on looking at trichomes on lavendar, the insides of a flower bloom (the stamen and pollen etc), the edges of a brand new razorblade and a dull one, and a ballpoint pen and a felt pen. Thanks for posting all these ideas. I will try to get through as many as my time allows over the next few weeks.