These 20 winning microscope images reveal a beautiful, hidden universe in incredible detail

A hidden and fantastic universe exists just beyond our sight.

Luckily, photos taken through the lens of a microscope help scientists document new lifeforms and unknown structures.

The images can also reveal an unreal level of detail in everyday objects, like this shimmering blob of dried-up espresso coffee:

Each year, a panel of Nikon Small World judges awards cash prizes to microscope photographers for their best work.

The above shot is just one of their winning picks for 2016 — and the picture faced some steep competition.

"Scientists, photographers and hobbyists from 70 countries submitted more than 2,000 entries," according to a Nikon press release. "Judges selected winners that exemplified artistic quality as well as exceptional scientific technique." (I was a judge for the 40th year of the contest, and the selection process, while a privilege, was neither quick nor easy.)

Although Business Insider previously showed off the finalists, Nikon on Wednesday revealed its top 20 ranked winners — each of which is featured below.

There's still time to pick your favorite image and help decide the "Popular Vote" winner through October 25. Nikon will also release the winners of its "Small World in Motion" microscope video competition later this year.

20) Fungus growing on cow dung

Poop has never looked more interesting.

This shot, taken by UK-based photographer Michael Crutchley, shows a Pilobolus or "cannon" fungi that shoots out its spores, magnified 30X.

"When the spores in the black cap are released," he wrote in his photo entry, they come out at an acceleration of 23,000g, which translates to thousands of miles per hour — "one of the fastest [speeds] in the natural world."

19) Brain cells grown from human embryonic stem cells

Six Rockefeller University researchers snapped this photo (magnified 10X) of embryonic stem cells coaxed to grow into brain cells. 

"We use human stem cells to model and understand human brain development and diseases such as [Huntington's] and Alzheimer's disease," the group wrote in its photo entry.

18) Hind leg of a broad-shouldered leaf beetle

This image (magnified 40X) isn't just for beauty, says its maker — Pia Scanlon, a bio-security specialist in the Department of Agriculture and Food in Western Australia.

"My work requires me to understand and capture taxonomic detail while creating an appealing image," she wrote in her photo entry. "Often it is important, from a taxonomic point of view, to microphotograph living [specimens] prior to curation to capture the full colour spectrum of a species. This gives an accurate reproduction of how an insect look’s in its natural environment. Preserved specimens can lose their colors over time, for example the eye colour of dragonflies diminishes almost as soon as they die."