Using advanced techniques, scientists have captured vibrant images from the world of science, ranging from cancer cells to a salt crystal. Here are five award-winning scientific photos from 2005.
1. Salt and Pepper:
Winner of the Close-Up category. This photo was taken by researcher David McCarthy at the London School of Pharmacy, aiming to understand the structure of familiar objects in our daily lives. He used an electron microscope to capture this image of a sea salt grain and a dried peppercorn.
2. Paracetamol Crystals:
Winner of the Artistic Photography category. Using a highly magnified camera, Spike Walker captured the moment paracetamol (pain relief medication) crystals dissolve in water. The black triangles on the outer edge were enclosed by a flat surface, creating space for the drug crystals to expand.
3. Origins:
Winner of the Conceptual Photography category. To illustrate the panspermia theory (the belief that life originates from seeds from outer space), John Brackenbury from the University of Cambridge combined a series of high-speed images. The photo depicts an egg falling from above, hitting the water, splitting in half, and creating smaller eggs.
4. Movement of Cancer Cells:
Winner of the Medical and Life Photography category. This image illustrates the movement of cancer cells as they pass through a filter in the laboratory. Similar to David McCarthy, Anne Watson used an electron microscope to obtain this photograph.
5. Lizardfish and Shrimp:
Winner of the Scientific Photography category. At first glance, the image may suggest that the small shrimp is prey for the lizardfish; however, this is actually a form of symbiosis where the shrimp serves as a “cleaner” for the fish. Out of over 2,200 competing photos, the image of the Lizardfish and Shrimp taken by Jim Greenfield in the Antilles won first place.
SPINNING WHEEL
