Art or Science Gallery

Bacteria found on mobile phone, SEM

Bacteria found on mobile phone. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of bacteria cultured from a mobile phone. Tests have revealed the average handset carries 18 times more potentially harmful germs than a flush handle in a men's toilet. With frequent use phones remain warm, creating the ideal breeding ground for bacteria. With touch-screen phones, the same part of the phone touched with fingertips is pressed up against the face and mouth, increasing chances of infection. In tests E. coli, Haemophilus influenzae and MRSA were amongst infectious bacteria found on handsets. Common harmless bacteria include Staphylococcus epidermidis, Micrococcus, Streptococcus viridans, Moraxella, and bacillus species. Magnification: x4000 when printed at 10cm wide

© Science Photo Library

Diatom detail, SEM

Diatom. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of detail of the silica wall of a diatom. Diatoms may be extremely abundant in both freshwater and marine ecosystems; it is estimated that 20% to 25% of all organic carbon fixation on the planet is carried out by diatoms. This is possible because they contain chlorophyll. Diatoms are a major food resource for marine and freshwater microorganisms and animal larvae, and are a major source of atmospheric oxygen. A unique feature of diatom cells is that they are enclosed within a cell wall made of silica (hydrated silicon dioxide) called a frustule. Magnification: x10000 when printed at 10 centimetres wide

© Science Photo Library

Human brain, illustration

Illustration of a cross-section of the brain showing the various lobes. The lobes are shown in different colours - red (frontal), green (parietal), yellow (occipital), orange (temporal), and pink (limbic). Also shown are the various ventricles, the brain stem, the thalamus and hypothalamus, the cerebellum, the pituitary gland and the corpus callosum. The background shows a silhouette of a human skull and head