Dew on grass. Coloured environmental scanning electron micrograph (ESEM) of dew (blue) on a blade of grass. Dew is water vapour that has condensed from the air. As air cools at night it can hold less water vapour, so any excess water vapour condenses. Unlike a conventional scanning electron microscope (SEM), samples can be examined in an environmental SEM without being desiccated or coated in gold. Magnification unknown.