Art or Science Gallery

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

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Giraffatitan, illustration

Illustration of a giraffatitan dinosaur. Giraffatitan was previously thought to be a species of brachiosaurus (B. brancai) but is now thought to belong to a separate genus. These animals were sauropods, four-legged, plant-eating dinosaurs from the Jurassic period. They reached a maximum length of about 26 metres and weighed up to 40 tonnes. The skeletons of Brachiosaurus and Giraffatitan, although coming from different continents (America and Africa, respectively) look almost identical to the untrained eye, so this picture could represent either animal

© Science Photo Library

Coronavirus particle, illustration

Coronavirus particle, illustration. Different strains of coronavirus are responsible for diseases such as the common cold, gastroenteritis and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). A new coronavirus (2019-CoV) emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The virus causes a mild respiratory illness that can develop into pneumonia and be fatal in some cases. The coronaviruses take their name from their crown (corona) of surface proteins, which are used to attach and penetrate their host cells. Once inside the cells, the particles use the cells' machinery to make more copies of the virus

© Science Photo Library