Curious to see the mesmerizing beauty of human tears under a microscope? Check out the video below to watch Maurice Mikkers’ process and discover the hidden world within every drop
You’ve shed countless tears in your lifetime—tears of joy, sorrow, pain, and even frustration. But have you ever stopped to wonder what they actually look like up close?
Dutch artist and former lab technician Maurice Mikkers has done just that, capturing microscopic images of human tears and uncovering a stunning truth: each tear is as unique as a snowflake.
Under a microscope, tears form intricate crystalline patterns, revealing hidden structures that vary depending on their cause.
A tear shed from laughter does not look the same as a tear from heartbreak—a concept that has fascinated both scientists and artists alike.
This surprising discovery suggests that our emotions, environment, and even biology leave an imprint on our tears in ways we’ve only begun to understand.
Mikkers has analyzed hundreds of tears and has yet to find two that are identical.
His work poses a compelling question: What makes our tears so different, and what can they tell us about ourselves?
Breaking Down the Science of Tears
Tears aren’t just water. They’re complex biological fluids with a purpose. Scientists categorize them into three main types:
- Basal tears – These keep our eyes lubricated and healthy, preventing dryness and irritation.
- Reflex tears – Triggered by irritants like dust, wind, or onions, these serve as a protective mechanism to flush out foreign particles.
- Emotional tears – Produced during moments of strong feelings, whether happiness, sadness, or stress. Unlike the other two types, emotional tears contain additional biochemicals, including stress hormones like prolactin and adrenocorticotropic hormone, as well as leucine enkephalin, a natural painkiller.
This chemical composition suggests that crying isn’t just a reaction; it’s a biological response designed to help us cope with emotions.
Could this mean that shedding emotional tears is actually a form of therapy for the body?
Why No Two Tears Look Alike
At first glance, it seems logical to assume that all tears—made mostly of water and salt—should dry in a similar pattern.
However, Mikkers’ research challenges this assumption.
His microscopic images reveal that each tear crystallizes into a completely different structure, depending on temperature, humidity, and the specific circumstances under which it was shed.
A tear from watching a sad movie appears entirely different from one caused by chopping onions or stubbing a toe.
Even more fascinating is that two emotional tears from the same person can have completely different crystal formations if shed under varying levels of stress or sadness.
“A dark field microscope will light up the tear on a black background, so you can actually see the beautiful patterns and shapes,” Mikkers explains.
“I think tears are so unexplored. We need to figure out why.”
This revelation has implications far beyond just photography—it opens up new possibilities for understanding the psychological and physiological impact of tears.
If our emotional state can physically alter the structure of our tears, could they serve as biological markers for stress, trauma, or even personality traits?
Turning Tears Into Art
Mikkers has developed a precise method to collect and analyze tears. He follows these steps:
- Collection – Using micropipettes, he carefully extracts freshly shed tears.
- Transfer – The tears are dropped into tubes and then placed in 1-4 mm droplets onto a microscopic slide.
- Crystallization – The tears dry over a period of 5 to 30 minutes, during which they develop their unique crystalline structures.
- Microscopic Imaging – Using advanced imaging techniques, he captures the intricate details of the dried tears, revealing patterns that resemble landscapes, fractals, or delicate ice formations.
The results are breathtaking. Some tears form sprawling, river-like patterns, while others resemble delicate lace or frost on a windowpane.
What Can We Learn from the Shapes of Our Tears?
The uniqueness of each tear suggests that the conditions surrounding our emotions are as influential as the emotions themselves.
Biomedical scientist Naomi Chayen from the University of London believes that further research could reveal even deeper insights:
“Crystals are very dependent on the ingredients,” Chayen explains.
“If it is the same person, on the same day, and an emotional tear dries differently than one caused by an onion, it would be very, very interesting.”
Mikkers hopes that by continuing his research, he can uncover patterns that explain why different tears crystallize the way they do.
Could environmental conditions influence the structure of our tears? Could personal experiences or trauma leave a lasting impact on the way our tears form?
While these questions remain unanswered, one thing is clear: our tears are far more complex than we ever imagined.
A New Perspective on Crying
For centuries, crying has been seen as a sign of vulnerability, an expression of weakness or overwhelming emotion.
But what if we’ve been looking at it all wrong? What if tears are actually a powerful biological mechanism for healing and self-expression?
The idea that tears hold both personal and universal stories is a profound one.
Mikkers’ work reminds us that crying is not just a fleeting emotional reaction—it is a physical manifestation of our experiences, memories, and even our environment.
By studying tears under the microscope, we are literally looking at the crystallization of human emotion.
So, the next time you wipe away a tear, consider this: you’re not just shedding water and salt.
You’re creating something unique, a tiny piece of art formed by your own emotions.
