amazing images from world of science

 

 

Inside the body... and out of this world: From a crying baby and cancer cells to Orion Nebula and chameleon embryo, amazing images from world of science Wonders on show at International Images for Science Exhibition include coffee bean cell walls and mouse foetus The exhibition, by the Royal Photographic Society, is on UK tour before heading to Europe Cutting-edge technology provides amazing views from inside the human body A mosquito's antenna, a falling sycamore seed - and incredible internal shots of the human body: these images show the wonders of science from around the world and beyond. Selected for the Royal Photographic Society’s latest exhibition, they highlight the beauty of scientific research. Among the pictures on display at the International Images for Science Exhibition 2013 - which showcases the work of 54 scientists - are dividing cancer cells, a bat embryo, gallstones, the cell wall of a coffee bean and, from slightly further afield, the Orion Nebula. This photo of a crying baby forms part of the International Images for Science Exhibition 2013, organised by the Royal Photographic Society Incredible views of the human body are now possible through sophisticated scientific instruments such as fibre optics, endoscopes, microscopes, telescopes, stereo microscopes and ophthalmoscopes The show features works by 54 scientists from around the world Here, thermal imaging has been used on a subject to dazzling effect Selected for the society's latest exhibition, which is touring the UK and rest of Europe, the images highlight the incredible beauty of scientific research Photography skills play a crucial role in medicine, forensic science, engineering, archaeology, oceanography, natural history and many more areas. Dr Michael Pritchard, director general of the Royal Photographic Society, said: 'The society was founded in 1853 to promote the art and science of photography and we’ve been doing just that ever since. ‘We held the first International Images for Science exhibition in 2011 and it went down extremely well.'  The application of photography to science is almost as old as photography itself. This alien-looking configuration is actually dividing cancer cells (by Volker Brinkmann) This remarkable image shows the interior cell walls of a coffee bean A close-up of gallstones, caused when cholesterol level in our bile is too high, and excess cholesterol is turned into stones The Dusty Spectacle of Orion, 2013, by Robert Hurt, Caltech, US. The nebula is pictured in infra-red and colour-coded according to wavelength. The data was captured by the Nasa Widefield Infrared Survey Explorer spacecraft Beauveria bassiana, 2012, by Nicole Ottawa, Reitlingen, Germany. This, believe it or not, is the base of a mosquito's antenna. The image is from a scanning electron micrograph, and has been digitally coloured The skeleton of a chameleon embryo, by Dorit Hockman As early as 1872, Eadweard Muybridge, a British-born photographer, used photography to study and analyse motion in horses. Since then, by using invisible radiation, new techniques and methods of photography have arisen. This has happened, for example, through sophisticated scientific instruments such as fibre optics, endoscopes, microscopes, telescopes, stereo microscopes and ophthalmoscopes. ‘Gone are the days when we were restricted to 1000 ISO emulsion sensitivity,’ said Dr Afzal Ansary, exhibition co-ordinator. Among the startling images on show is this mouse foetus Extreme close-up view of the head of a Yellow Paper wasp by Daniel Kariko. Many species build their nests on human habitation, while not normally aggressive paper wasps will defend their nests vigorously. This image is part of a series investigating our often-overlooked housemates Triple exposure image showing a seed falling from a Sycamore tree by Adrian Davies, Surrey. This image was created in three exposures; the first with flash to show the leaves and seeds, the next a half-second exposure showing the spiralling fall and the last a flash exposure to freeze the seed at the bottom of its descent ‘Today, DSLR cameras with full frame sensors have the ability to process images that reduce noise in low light conditions. 'We have CCD sensors, sensitive to much higher ISO sensitivities which can yield usable images. ‘We used to say that, “if you can see it, it can be photographed” and now we say, “even if you cannot see it, we most likely can photograph it”.’ The International Images for Science exhibition is currently on a tour of the UK before heading to Europe. Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins on an ice floe near Danko Island in the Antarctic by David Doubilet. The photographer observed them pushing each other off the floe and swimming in the water as if playing a game of tag Weevil found on front porch doormat by Daniel Kariko. There are over 40,000 species of true weevils in the family Circulionidae, beetle-like creatures typified by a long snout and clubbed antennae The left image shows the collision of two water droplets beneath a bursting soap bubble by Greg Parker, Hampshire. The image was captured using a Canon 5D Mark II SLR camera and a xenon flash unit with an exposure time of 9 microseconds. The right image unique fishbone pattern is created by two colliding steams of liquids by Ted Kinsman.  The pattern is currently the focus of scientists studying the strange world of fluid dynamics Coloured scanning electron micrograph of a Leafcutter Ant holding a gear from a micromechanical device by Manfred P Kage. The gear is about 0.1mm wide Human cortical neurons with interconnecting dendrites, 4,200X by David Scharf. Cortical Neurons make up the brain's cortex which in part makes up the cerebral cortex, responsible for memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thought, language, and consciousness 3D reconstruction of a glass model of a jellyfish, imaged using X-rays in a micro-CT scanner by Dan Sykes, Natural History Museum. The artificial colours used here are based on the density of the glass. This incredible model was sculpted in glass in the mid-19th Century by Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka. The techniques used by this father and son team are not fully understood, it is hoped that this study will help reveal some of their secrets A porcelain crab feeding inside the safety of its host Pocillopora coral branches by Louise Murray from London. It is lit by the bright green fluorescence of the coral. These are normally very shy creatures and are difficult to photograph Light micrograph of a mouse embryo, approximately 10.5 days post-fertilisation by Jim Swoger. The specimen was stained with a fluorescent marker that highlights the presence of precursor cells to nerve tissue then chemically treated to make it optically transparent Our hidden world: Photographs reveal the bizarre beauty of objects - such as knives and cigarette butts - when put under a microscope The images were taken as part of a competition by Oregan-based imaging company, FEI, and National Geographic They include a cigarette filter, a mosquito, a close up of a curry plant and an immune cell in the human body Winners will be shown in National Geographic’s ‘Mysteries of the Unseen World’ film which debuts November 8 2013 You tap your cigarette, rearrange the flowers and head to the kitchen to make dinner. These everyday actions, using ordinary objects, are so common in our lives that our brains skim over the smallest details. But what if you held a microscope up to the unseen world? What kind of perspective would we get on common objects around us? FEI's instrument owners were invited to submit their best images for inclusion in National Geographic promotional materials for its giant screen film 'Invisible Worlds'. This view of a cigarette filter, revealing cellulose acetate fibers, was the May winner in the 'Around the House' category That's exactly what an annual image contest organised by FEI, an Oregon-based imaging company, alongside National Geographic, aims to find out. These images, taken as part of a competition to capture the unseen world, aim to shift our perspective of common objects by placing them under a new light. FEI’s instrument owners were invited to submit their best images for inclusion in National Geographic promotional materials for its giant screen film ‘Invisible Worlds’. Marcos Rosado was awarded first place for this image of an Acacia Dealbata flower. Mr Rosado said he picked the bloom from a tree in his parents' garden The mouth parts of the aquatic third-stage larva of an Asian tiger mosquito are seen at 800 x magnification. The mosquito can carry dengue and chikungunya viruses, both of which cause high fevers. The infections usually occur in tropical regions of Africa, Asia and South America. The image was taken by Riccardo Antonelli Barcelona-based Marcos Rosado, an electron microscopy specialist, was awarded first place in the 2013 FEI Image Contest for his entry ‘Acacia Dealbata Flower’. ‘I was in the garden of my parents' house admiring the Acacia Dealbata,’ recalled Mr Rosado. ‘I noticed a little ball hanging from a branch of the tree which was going to be a flower in a few days. ‘It seemed to have some beautiful yellow spots into it, so I decided to take it and have a look at it in the microscope. ‘What I discovered is that it, as I supposed, was an Acacia Dealbata flower about to open. It was really beautiful.’ Categories for this year's image contest were designed to be more consumer friendly and included 'The Natural World', 'The Human Body', and 'Around the House'. This image of dendritic cells (immune cells) stimulated with silicon microparticles was the July winner in 'The Human Body' category This extreme close-up image of a Helichrysum italicum flower with pollen grains was the June winner in the 'Natural World' category. Helichrysum iltalicum is also known as the curry plant, because of the strong smell of its leaves and grows on dry, rocky or sandy ground around the Mediterranean This photo of bacterial nanocables that were found in Denmark's Aarhus Bay was the July winner in the 'Natural World' category. Bacterial nano cables are electrically conductive systems produced by a number of bacteria Categories for this year's image contest were designed to be more consumer friendly and included 'The Natural World', 'The Human Body', and 'Around the House'. Highlights include an image by Riccardo Antonelli of the mouth parts of the aquatic third-stage larva of an Asian tiger mosquito are seen at 800 x magnification. The mosquito can carry dengue and chikungunya viruses, both of which cause high fevers. The infections usually occur in tropical regions of Africa, Asia and South America. Another image shows, which shows extreme close-up image of a Helichrysum italicum flower with pollen grains, was the June winner in the 'Natural World' category. Helichrysum iltalicum is also known as the curry plant, because of the strong smell of its leaves and grows on dry, rocky or sandy ground around the Mediterranean A view of a cigarette filter, revealing cellulose acetate fibers, is shown as the May winner in the 'Around the House' category. Green-tinted false arms, also known as pseudopods, are shown from a human fibroblast cell over silica microparticles in this photo. A pseudopod is a temporary projection seen in some cells, including amoebas and white blood cells. Its function is to help the cell move This photo reveals the fracture surface of a snap-off blade after breaking off one of the segments This photo shows silicon nanowires that were grown on copper foil with gold on top, through a process known as chemical vapor deposition. These nanowires will be used to manufacture anodes for lithium-ion batteries One entry imaged incredibly detailed green-tinted false arms, also known as pseudopods, shown from a human fibroblast cell over silica microparticles. A pseudopod is a temporary projection seen in some cells, including amoebas and white blood cells. Its function is to help the cell move. Cyril Geudj meanwhile used an FEI Strata scanning transmission electron microscope to create an incredible image simply titled 'The Web'. This image is an extremely high magnification image of a grid he uses to grow samples for observation. Winners of FEI’s ‘Explore the Unseen’ image contest in partnership with National Geographic’s ‘Mysteries of the Unseen World,’ debuts November 8 2013. This photo of Torilis arvensis, more commonly known as spreading hedge parsley, was the July winner in the 'Other Relevant Science' category Created by Cyril Geudj using an FEI Strata scanning transmission electron microscope, and simply titled 'The Web', an extremely high magnification image of a grid he uses to grow samples for observation A microscopic image of a head lice gripping onto two human hairs. This image was the May winner in 'The Human Body' category

Day of the dead

 

 

Day of the dead: Skulls and bones of the unnamed dead gathered up in piles as part of grim All Souls’ Day tradition in Philippines All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day in the Philippines are the two most important days in the Filipino calender Millions will flock to graveyards to pay their respects to relatives and loved ones who have died Offices and schools close and the usually silent graveyards are transformed into parties with food and music A doll lies among human skulls and skeletons at this public cemetery in the Philippines which is preparing to mark the Day of the Dead. All Souls' Day in the Philippines, known as Araw ng mga Patay - and All Saints' Day are the two most important days in the Filipino calender. Millions will soon flock to graveyards around the country to pay their respects to departed relatives and loved ones over the festival. A doll lies amid human skulls and skeletons inside a common grave at a cemetery in Las Pinas, Metro Manila, on the eve of the All Saints' Day Families tend to light candles and clean crypts ahead of All Saints' Day celebrations on October 31. As the largest Catholic nation in Asia, this public holiday allows Filipinos to visit family crypts for overnight and weekend vigils. Offices and schools close and the usually silent graveyards are transformed into parties with food and music. More than one million people are buried in the North Manila Cemetery including former presidents, national artists and movie stars. There are at least 100 burials held here every week. According to a cemetery worker, the unclaimed skulls and skeletons are placed in a common grave after their 'lease' is finished to make way for more graves. Boys walk past unclaimed human skulls and skeletons inside a common grave at a cemetery in Las Pinas, Metro Manila Residents visit their departed loved ones at a common grave on the eve of the All Saints' Day, a Roman Catholic feast in the Philippines at a cemetery in Las Pinas, Metro Manila As the largest Catholic nation in Asia this public holiday allows Filipinos to visit the family cemeteries where they light candles Preparations: A man cleans the crypt of a departed relative at a public cemetery ahead of All Saints' Day in Manila, Philippines Young boys play basketball at a public cemetery which will be lit up with candles during All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day to pay respects to departed loved ones Filipino families can be seen living on top of graves at Manila's North Cemetery in the Philippines Millions of Filipinos will soon flock to cemeteries around the country to visit departed relatives and loved ones to mark All Saints Day and All Souls Day Children living in the area play tag on top of stacked tombs at a cemetery in Manila, Philippines before All Saints' Day A Filipino man sleeps on top of a grave at a public cemetery in Davao, Philippines. Soon millions of Filipinos will flock to cemeteries around the country A Filipino vendor sleeps beside a grave at a public cemetery in Davao, Philippines A Filipino man is seen cleaning the tomb of his departed loved one in a public cemetery in Davao, Philippines Children living in the area play games on top of graves in the Philippines before All Saints' Day A Filipino boy dressed as a vampire waits during a Halloween parade in Marikina city, east of Manila, Philippines Families light candles and clean the crypts ahead of All Saints' Day celebrations on October 31 in Manila, Philippines A pair of children light candles at a public cemetery ahead of All Saints' Day in Manila, Philippines as the largest Catholic nation in Asia prepares for the public holiday Filipino girls living beside multi-layered tombs ride a bike at a public cemetery in Navotas, north of Manila, Philippines

THE SINS OF THE IRAQ WAR

 

 

Untold stories from Iraq: World's best photojournalists describe the horrors behind the headlines with never-before-seen images and harrowing accounts During the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, Bush and Blair conspired to “fix the facts around the policy,” as revealed by the Downing Street Memo. As the whole world now knows, Bush and Blair conspired to lie to the world to invent false justifications for war. The conspiracies and lies of Bush and Blair destroyed democracy. In a democracy, it is the people and their democratically-elected representatives who decide whether or not to go to war. And the people’s decision must be based on accurate information or else it means nothing. The BBC reported the “collapse” of World Trade Center Building 7 twenty minutes before it happened. By simply telling the world who provided that premature information, the BBC could have caught and exposed a 9/11 criminal. Instead, the BBC has joined with the perpetrators of the 9/11 State Crime Against Democracy (or SCAD, a category of crime identified in the groundbreaking work of Professor Lance DeHaven-Smith of Florida State University) to propagandize against the “conspiracy theorists.” The Untold Stories From Iraq' has brought together a collection of never-before-seen images from three dozen of the world's leading frontline photographers. Michael Kamber's book 'Photojournalists On War: The Untold Stories From Iraq' has brought together a collection of never-before-seen images from three dozen of the world's leading frontline photographers Baghdad February 12, 2003. Six weeks before the start of the war, a man sits drinking tea at the Al Zahawi cafe on Rashid Street. Cafes are a trademark of this ancient city, gathering places where men play dominos, blackjack and socialize. Photo by Bruno Stevens Tal Afar, Iraq, June 7, 2005. Terror suspects are detained and put inside an Armored Personnel Carrier to be transported to a local detention facility during an early morning raid in Tal Afar. Soldiers of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and Iraqi soldiers are moving into Tal Afar with Bradleys, Tanks and Humvees. Helicopters are flying overhead. The soldiers are searching houses and detaining terrorist suspects. Photo by Christoph Bangert Al Musayyib, May 27, 2003. An Iraqi child jumps over the remains of victims found in a mass grave south of Baghdad. The bodies had been brought to this school for identification by family members who searched for identity cards and other clues among the skeletons to identify missing family members. The victims were killed by Saddam Hussein's government following a Shi'ite uprising here following the 1991 Gulf War. Photo by Marco Di Lauro / Getty Images Their often harrowing accounts include key moments such as the battle for Fallujah, the toppling of Saddam's statue, and the Haditha massacre. The photographers also vividly describe the often shocking and sometimes heroic actions that journalists undertook to cover the war to reveal the untold stories behind the headlines in Iraq. Kamber, from Maine, has been a photojournalist and journalist since 1986 and covered conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Liberia, the Sudan, Cote d'lvoire, Somalia, Haiti, Israel, the Congo and other countries. He currently works with The New York Times Baghdad Bureau. Photojournalists On War is available for pre-order here. Karmah (Garma) October 31, 2006. Sgt. Jesse E. Leach drags Lance Cpl. Juan Valdez to safety moments after he was shot by a sniper during a patrol. Valdez was shot through the arm and right torso but survived. Photo by João Silva for The New York Times Eastern Ramadi, Iraq, January 24, 2006. A US soldier watches an Iraqi man just arrested during a raid who collapsed while his hands where being tied. Photo by Guy Calaf Kirkuk, Iraq, April, 2004. Roadside explosion. Photo by Stanley Greene for NOOR Al Faw palace in Baghdad, Iraq on July 4, 2008. 1,215 American soldiers, airmen, marines (patch of lighter uniforms in top left corner) and seamen (patch of lighter uniforms in top center) pray before the pledge of enlistment at a massive re-enlistment ceremony. Photo by Ashley Gilbertson / VII Network Tal Afar, January 18, 2005. Samar Hassan, 5, screams moments after her parents were killed by US soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division. The troops fired on the Hassan family car when it unwittingly approached during a dusk patrol in the tense northern town. Her brother, Racan, 11, was wounded in the shooting. Later, after being treated in the US and returning to Iraq, Racan was killed when insurgents bombed the family home in retaliation for the boy's trip to the US. Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images Ubaydi, Iraq, December 29, 2007. Capt. George Morris, commander of B Company, 2-502 Infantry, and his soldiers hit the ground running in the opening salvo of Operation Patriot Strike. The soldiers detained 10 suspected al-Qaeda conspirators and seized weapons and bomb-making supplies. Photo by Ben Brody Rawah, March, 2006. A weary American soldier stands guard as a residential home is searched. Photo by Peter van Agtmael / Magnum Qubah, Iraq, March 24, 2007. A US soldier marks the hands of women and the backs of the necks of men with numbers for their specific neighborhoods and homes. Lt Col. Andrew Poppas of the 73rd Cavalry, 82nd Airborne Division, said the numbering system allowed troops to determine if people were moving around the village of Qubah despite a lockdown following a US attack on insurgents. Photo by Yuri Kozyrev / NOOR Basra, Iraq, April 7, 2003. British soldiers watch black smoke rising from Basra. The building on the right, a technical college, was hit repeatedly by British fire in response to Iraqi sniper attacks. Photo by Alan Chin Sadr City, 2009. Rena was nine months pregnant, walking with her youngest sister one day in 2008. A U.S. aerial strike over Sadr City tore her leg off and killed her unborn infant and sister. Photo by Farah Nosh Diyala, April 7, 2003. US Marines remove their dead and wounded after an artillery shell scored a direct hit on a US armored vehicle during an attack on Diyala Bridge. Photo by Gary Knight/VII Balad, July 16, 2003. An Iraqi suspect in an early morning roadside attack on an American convoy, is 'bagged and tied' by American soldiers. He lies waiting on the lawn of a neighbor's house while the soldiers discuss their next move. Photo by Rita Leistner