An image that claims to show caffeine under a microscope has caught the attention of many on social media. This picture, which presents a stunning geometric pattern, is said to be a close-up view of caffeine crystals.
On March 5, 2024, this fascinating photograph was shared on Reddit, quickly gathering over 20,000 upvotes. The image sparked curiosity and admiration among viewers.
The following day, another version of this photo made its way to X (formerly known as Twitter), where it amassed more than 102,000 views. The intrigue around this microscopic view of caffeine continued to grow.
To verify the authenticity of the image, a reverse-image search was conducted using Google Lens. This investigation led to the discovery that the original photo was published on Pixels, a platform for photography and art. The image is titled “Polarized light micrograph of caffeine crystals” and was captured by Nic Van Oudtshoorn on August 7th, 2023.
The photo as it appears on the image-hosting platform is a testament to the unique beauty of caffeine crystals under polarized light.
Nic Van Oudtshoorn, the photographer, confirmed via email that the image is genuine. He shared that he is a macro photographer and used a specialized polarizing light microscope to capture the caffeine crystals after drying them on a microscope slide. The magnification used ranged between approximately 80 and 200 times.
Van Oudtshoorn is an award-winning photojournalist and nature photographer based in Australia, with a focus on wildlife and macro photography. His work is showcased on his Pixels profile.
Caffeine is a natural stimulant that affects the central nervous system. It is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance globally, found in coffee beans, tea, soda, and energy drinks. The chemical structure of caffeine was detailed in the June 2016 issue of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine Inpress.
For more information on caffeine and related topics, Snopes has a dedicated caffeine archive.
This claim about the microscopic view of caffeine has been rated as True.