Microscopic Marvels: Discovering the Beauty of a Cherry Tomato
Spiritual insights from a tiny tomato under the lens
Tiny Cherry Tomato — Photo by Author.
Just a few days prior, here in the Italian city of Naples where I currently reside, I decided to engage in the hobby that brings me the greatest pleasure — using a high-powered microscope to marvel at the astonishing wonders of nature. This particular time, the specimen that found itself placed under the microscope’s lens was a tiny cherry tomato, one of those delightful little round and succulent fruits that are so emblematic of the Mediterranean cuisine prevalent in my home region of Campania.
Little did I know that on that day, that humble little tomato would lead me on a transcendental mental journey, connecting science with philosophy and spirituality in illuminating ways.
On the right, the thicker and rougher skin is distinguishable, while toward the left begins the softer and more translucent structure of the cherry tomato's inner pulp made of parenchyma cells that store water and nutrients. The bright orange areas correspond to chromoplasts containing carotenoid pigments.
Bresser DST-0745 equipped with a Bresser MikroCam II Microscope Camera 12MP — Photo by Author.
Miniature World
As soon as I pointed out the objective, an entire miniature world revealed itself to my astonished eyes. The first thing I noticed was the microscopic plant cells of the tomato, arranged in an orderly honeycomb pattern. Thick, resistant walls protected these tiny chambers, each hosting a variety of cellular workers called organelles.
The green chloroplasts of the photosynthetic team produced nourishment, while the vacuoles acted as welcoming dispensaries of nutrients and waste.
On the right, the thicker and rougher skin is distinguishable, while toward the left begins the softer and more translucent structure of the cherry tomato's inner pulp. The bright orange areas correspond to chromoplasts containing carotenoid pigments.
Bresser DST-0745 equipped with a Bresser MikroCam II Microscope Camera 12MP — Photo by Author.
Increasing the magnification, suddenly the seeds took shape — true life capsules hidden in the belly of the fruit. Each tiny seed revealed a plant embryo wrapped in a protective coating called the testa. And all around was the endosperm, a tissue packed with nutrients to fuel that embryo’s germination once awakened.
As I continued exploring, the intricate network of vascular structures snaking inside the tomato became visible. These microscopic plant “veins” and “arteries” pump precious nourishment to every remote corner of the fruit. I could even glimpse the flow of vital liquids through these tiny channels.
Microscopic cross-section of cherry tomato pulp at 150-180X magnification, showing red carotenoid-rich chromoplasts, seed structures, and cellular matrix.
Bresser DST-0745 equipped with a Bresser MikroCam II Microscope Camera 12MP — Photo by Author.
Brilliant red
The brilliant red that makes tomatoes so alluring is the result of carotenoid pigments crammed into specialized pockets inside every cell, the chromoplasts. But the tomato is not just red — red-yellow-orange pigments from the flavonoid family add brushstrokes of colour to the vegetal rainbow.
From a chemical standpoint, that little cherry tomato was a veritable open-pit mine of precious substances. Vitamins C and B, potassium, folic acid, and powerful antioxidants like lycopene — a concentrate of health-essential compounds in a single bite.
Pulp of a cherry tomato.
Bresser DST-0745 equipped with a Bresser MikroCam II Microscope Camera 12MP — Photo by Author.
Increasing the magnification up to 180x, something astonishing happened. Those tiny seeds no longer looked like innocuous black dots, but motionless celestial bodies in the tomato’s firmament, vibrating with an intrinsic life force. This evocative vision instantly brought me back to the ancient words of the Hindu Vedanta scriptures:
“Tat Tvam Asi” — “You are That”.
A reminder that we are not separate from the surrounding universe, but an integral part of a single divine cosmic dance, just as those seeds are an integral part of the tomato itself.
Pulp of a cherry tomato.
Bresser DST-0745 equipped with a Bresser MikroCam II Microscope Camera 12MP — Photo by Author.
Neruda
The great Chilean poet Pablo Neruda once defined the tomato as an “earthly star”, and observing that little fruit under the microscope, I could finally fully grasp the evocative power of those words. Inside that little tomato hid an entire micro-universe, with liquid galaxies mirroring the immense splendour of the true outer cosmos.
A powerful reminder of how life, in all its great and small forms, is interlinked by profound and inscrutable bonds that have forever inspired human philosophy and spirituality.
This is a microscopic image of the pulp of a cherry tomato, magnified approximately 180 times.
Bresser DST-0745 equipped with a Bresser MikroCam II Microscope Camera 12MP — Photo by Author.
While science allowed me to analyze and understand the physical details of that microscopic world, it was philosophy that gave broader meaning to what I was seeing. A mundane microscope observation was transformed into a transcendent experience that raised big questions about the true nature of reality and our role in it.
Ether and Atman
Even the space at the centre of the tomato, once the pulp was removed, carried philosophical meanings. It made me ponder the ancient concept of “ether”, a hypothetical all-pervading substance of space at the dawn of science. This brought to mind the powerful verses of the Vivekachudamani by Adi Shankara:
"133: The knower of the modifications of the mind, of the self, of the activities of the body, of the senses and of the prana, seems to take the form of these, as fire takes the form of a heated iron ball; but in truth, it neither acts nor transforms.
134: It is not born and does not die, does not grow and does not diminish, cannot undergo changes because it is unchanging; when the body disintegrates, it continues to exist, just as the ether enclosed in a pot continues to exist when it breaks."
The Atman is the real part of us.
It never changes.
It is always there.
It sees all the changes but does not take part in them.
It is like a fire that changes shape to fit what it is heating, but is still fire.
The Atman is the true part of us that stays the same, even when everything else changes.
Connection
Observing that tiny tomato, I fully grasped the primal bond that unites humanity with the nature of this planet. Just as those seeds nestle safely in the fruit’s womb, we humans too find refuge in the nurturing womb of Mother Earth, dependent on the harmony of natural ecosystems for our very survival. An elemental connection that philosophers and thinkers have celebrated since time immemorial.
But perhaps the greatest lesson came from appreciating the beauty and wonder contained in such a humble and common object as that little cherry tomato. Too often we tend to seek a sense of wonder in faraway, exotic and costly things, losing sight of the little everyday magics within reach. Devoting so much attention to such an ordinary fruit was a powerful reminder of the importance of always maintaining a curious and awe-filled gaze on the world around us.
On the left, the thicker and rougher skin is distinguishable, while toward the right begins the softer and more translucent structure of the cherry tomato's inner pulp made of parenchyma cells that store water and nutrients. The bright orange areas correspond to chromoplasts containing carotenoid pigments.
Bresser DST-0745 equipped with a Bresser MikroCam II Microscope Camera 12MP — Photo by Author. - Bresser DST-0745 equipped with a Bresser MikroCam II Microscope Camera 12MP — Photo by Author.
And..so?
What began as an innocuous scientific observation of a simple little tomato soon revealed itself as an enlightening journey into myself and my relationship with existence. More than ever, through the lenses of that microscope, I understood how everything in the universe is profoundly and magnificently interconnected — even the bowels of a humble Campania cherry tomato reflect the harmony and complexity of the infinite cosmos. From that day on, I will never look at tomatoes with the same casual glance as before.
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