Chinese engineer wins Nikon Small World in Motion contest with stunning cilia video

Ning Xu, a Chinese optical engineer from Tsinghua University, took home this year’s Nikon Small World in Motion competition, beating out 346 entries from 40 countries. His super‑resolution video captures the abnormal beating of airway cilia in a child with primary ciliary dyskinesia, a rare genetic respiratory disorder. The contest, which began in 2011 as a spin‑off of Nikon’s long‑running photomicrography series, showcases the beauty and complexity of microscopic life through cutting‑edge photovideography.