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fwiends
(mander.xyz)
A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.
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Wait, 0.3mm is huge, you should be able to see that. I don't think this is right.
0.3mm in length, not diameter. Yes, you can see them, but they just look like dead skin/gunk to our eyes.
Image1
Image2
Image3
Gallery with visible accumulation of mites on hairs
Maybe we do see them, but mistake them for bits of skin or dirt.
Agreed. 1/64th of an inch is .016". An average human hair is .003" in diameter, that would be as long as five hairs wide. You wouldn't even need a magnifier to see the largest ones.
Combine the size with the fact that they are semi transparent and live in hair follicles and sebaceous glands, both of which are essentially under the skin, and that's why you don't generally see them.