Pollen under a microscope

One in five people worldwide suffers from seasonal pollen allergies, but few know what these particles actually are. In this collection, you'll see colorized photographs of allergy-causing pollen particles, taken using a scanning electron microscope. The pollen grains are magnified millions of times, and their beauty is simply stunning.

Pollen allergy, also known as hay fever or pollinosis, is a common allergic reaction caused by exposure to pollen. During the pollen season, many people experience symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and throat, and nasal congestion.

A colorized photograph of grass pollen taken with a scanning electron microscope. These grains are one of the main causes of hay fever.

The second culprit of allergies is birch pollen.

This is what a pollen grain looks like. Birch pollen is carried by the wind; it has a smooth, non-sticky surface and can travel up to a thousand kilometers.

Alder pollen grain.

Allergies are one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), some form of allergy affects approximately 20-30% of the population. Pollen allergy, or hay fever, affects approximately 10-30% of adults and up to 40% of children. This condition can significantly impair quality of life, especially if a person spends a lot of time outdoors.

Pollen grain of a chickweed flower.

Different types of pollen can trigger allergies at different times of the year. Trees such as white birch, poplar, oak, and sycamore cause allergies in early spring. Grass is the main culprit in summer, from May to August. Weeds such as nettle and sorrel, as well as wormwood and plantain, can trigger allergies in late summer and fall.

Pollen grain of horse chestnut.

Pollen grain of the sycamore tree, which is also an allergen.

Hellebore pollen.

And these “lemons” are cucumber pollen grains.

This is what pollen grains from wormwood, one of the most common allergy culprits, look like.

No, this is not an orange, these are pollen grains from timothy grass.

Plantain pollen grain.

Small-leaved linden seeds, which can also cause serious allergies.

These "hedgehogs" are ragweed pollen grains.

Daisy pollen.

Pollen of the hedgehog grass.