It's a Bird! It's...a LOT of planes!

In the news:

"American Airlines Parent Files for Bankruptcy"

By Michael J. De La Merced

New York Times online

November 29, 2011

SN9360

Air traffic routes between North America and Europe. Global map showing air traffic routes superimposed over satellite images of cities illuminated at night. North America at far left and Europe at far right. This image illustrates modern human impact on the planet.

Credit: Félix Pharand-Deschênes, Globaïa / Photo Researchers, Inc.

Medicine In Motion!

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then video speaks 30,000 words every second! Video clips can provide more information and engage a viewer's attention longer than still images alone. The new video collection from Science Source, long a leader in scientific and medical photography, is online!   

Click here to see a sample of the medical, biological and scientific video clips now available on our website.

 

 
But wait, there's more!

Photo Researchers has a YouTube Channel, too! 

YouTube.com/PhotoResearchers

 

Pining after Pollen?

In the news:

"Flirty Plants"

By Susan Milius

ScienceNews online

December 3rd print issue

SE8078

Pollen tubes. Colored scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of pollen tubes (orange) on the pistil of a prairie gentian flower (Gentiana sp.). Pollen contains the male sex cells of a flowering plant. Once the grains land on the pistil (female parts) of a flower, the pollen grains form tubes that burrow down through the stigma (tip) and style (shaft) of the pistil to reach the ovule, which contains the ovum, the female sex cell. This is fertilized, forming a seed.

Credit: Susumu Nishinaga / Photo Researchers, Inc.

THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON COFFEE

In the news:

"Coffee delivers jolt deep in the brain"

By Laura Sanders

Science News online

November 21, 2011

2S2038

Steaming cup of coffee.

Credit: Charles D. Winters / Photo Researchers, Inc.

The Tired Turkey Myth

In the news:

"The Truth About Tryptophan"

By Lisa Zamosky

WebMD.com

SG2250

Melatonin and the pineal gland. Computer artwork of sectioned human brains in side view, depicting secretion of the hormone melatonin by the pineal gland (highlighted). The chemical formula for melatonin is shown. Front of the brain is at left. Melatonin is a hormone secreted in the blood which helps induce sleep and set the biological rhythm of the body.

Credit: Alfred Pasieka / Photo Researchers, Inc.

Chewing Gum Prevents Ear Infections? Really?

In the news:
"Really? 
The Claim: 
Chewing Gum 
Can Prevent 
Ear Infections"
By Anahad O'Connor
New York Times
November 21, 2011


SL0078

Polarized light micrograph of crystals of xylitol. This is a five-carbon sugar alcohol which tastes sweet and is found in fruit, fungi, vegetables, birch trees and coconut husks. Substituting xylitol for sucrose in the diet inhibits tooth decay because, unlike other sugars, it is not fermented to acid by oral bacteria. These bacteria continue to metabolize nitrogen-containing substances in our food and saliva thus raising the pH and increasing remineralization of tooth enamel. Xylitol is used to make dentally safe lozenges, chewing gum, pill-coatings and toothpaste. Magnification: x10 at 35mm size.

Credit: Sidney Moulds / Photo Researchers, Inc.

Durable Plastic

In the news:

"Plastic isn't over yet"

By Rachel Ehrenberg

ScienceNews online 

November 17, 2011

BT0405

Reinforced plastic. Color-enhanced scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic. The plastic (epoxy resin, yellow) is heat resistant up to 400 degrees centigrade. High-strength carbon fibers (grey) are embedded in it, which effectively absorb the stresses occurring in the material. The composite material is used in the aerospace and automotive industries, and in computer circuit boards and electronics. Magnification: x1920 when printed 10 centimeters wide.

Credit: Eye of Science / Photo Researchers, Inc.

Where Weather and Climate Meet

In the news:

"Report: Climate change means more frequent droughts, floods to come"

By Juliet Eilperin

The Washington Post online

November 18, 2011

4K9211

Flooded farm in Mississippi.

Credit: Dan Guravich / Photo Researchers, Inc.

Anxiety Gene

In the news:
"Chromosome glitch tied to separation anxiety"
By Tina Hesman Saey
ScienceNews online
November 17, 2011

3A5299

A normal female karyotype, the full complement of female chromosomes arranged in numbered homologous pairs. They are numbered 1-23 from top left to bottom right, the last pair being the sex chromosomes. They are obtained by matching unpaired chromosomes during the metaphase stage of cell division. Each member of a homologous pair is similar in length & banding pattern. Male & female sets differ only in the sex chromosome: a male is labeled XY, a female XX. Each human cell contains 46 chromosomes in total, 23 of maternal & 23 of paternal origin.

Credit: Scott Camazine & Sue Trainor / Photo Researchers, Inc.

Iridescence Protected Ancient Moths

In the news:
"Ancient moth sported a green sheen"
By Sid Perkins
nature.com
November 15, 2011
BK4707
Forester Moth (Adscita statices) on clover flower. Forester moths are generally day-flying, nectar-feeding moths. Europe.

Credit: David Hosking / Photo Researchers, Inc.

Medical Research on Chimpanzees?

2U4478
Captive chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes).

Credit: Nigel J. Dennis / Photo Researchers, Inc.

In the news:
"Chimps' Days in Labs May Be Dwindling"
By James Gorman
New York Times online
November 14, 2011

Specializing Parasites (Schistosoma mansoni)

In the news:
"Parasites drove human genetic variation"
By Cassandra Willyard
nature.com
November 11, 2011

BB3055
Schitosoma parasites; male and female together. This fluke lives in the veins of the intestines and bladder, attaching itself to blood vessel walls using a suction pad (center). The female lives in the groove on the male's back. It ingests blood cells through its mouth. Schistosome eggs pass into water in urine and feces. The larvae produced can infect humans through their skin. Enlargement 280x.

Credit: Eye of Science / Photo Researchers, Inc.

Memory

In the news:
"Exceptional memory linked to bulked-up parts of brain"
By Laura Sanders
ScienceNews online
November 13, 2011

SA3155
Obsessive-compulsive disorder. Colored Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans of a human brain, showing active areas in obsessive compulsive disorder. The brain is sectioned axially (left), sagittally (center), coronally (at right). In this patient, positive correlations (activity increases as symptoms get stronger) are in the top row, seen colored in the left orbital region, prefrontal, left frontal gyri & thalamus. Negative correlation (activity decreasing as symptoms strengthen) are in the bottom row in the right frontal gyrus and parietal regions. Active areas colored red/yellow show blood flow detected by a radioactive tracer.

Credit: WDCN / Univ. College London / Photo Researchers, Inc.

Magnetic Moon

In the news:

"How the moon got its magnetism"
By Nadia Drake

Science News online
November 9, 2011

BS8610
Totality during a lunar eclipse. A lunar eclipse occurs as the Moon passes into the Earth's shadow. The red light is due to shorter wavelengths, such as blue light, being scattered more in the atmosphere than longer wavelengths such as red light. Lunar eclipses occur only at full Moon, and then only when the Earth and Moon are correctly aligned (about 2-3 times a year). This image was obtained by combining exposures from a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. The eclipse took place on March 3, 2007, this view is from Sicily, Italy.

Credit: Philippe Morel / Photo Researchers, Inc.

The Sky Didn't Hit Earth When It Fell! (phew)

In the news:
"Giant asteroid passes near Earth"
BBC News online
November 9, 2011

BR9683
Meteor Crater aka Barringer Crater or Canyon Diablo near Winslow, Arizona. A nickel-iron meteorite about 50m across impacted the plain some 50,000 years ago carving out a crater 1,200m in diameter and 170m deep. Its rim rises 45m above the surroundings. Purchased in 1903 by mining engineer Daniel Barringer who hoped to exploit the presumed large iron-nickel mass. But the mining bonanza evaporated as had most of the meteorite upon impact. It is still owned by the Barringer family.

Credit: Georg Gerster / Photo Researchers, Inc.

Babbage's Analytical Engine

In the news:

"It Started Digital Wheels Turning"
By John Markoff
November 7, 2011
New York Times

SA2754
Babbage's Analytical Engine. A "mill", or part, of the Analytical Engine designed by Charles Babbage (1791-1871). This was completed in 1910 by Babbage's son. The Analytical Engine was a development of Babbage's earlier Difference Engine. Both were designed as mechanical calculators, originally to help with work in numerical problems in the calculus. Both machines were left unfinished at the time of Babbage's death. The principles established by the concept of these machines, however, are fundamental in computing and are applied today.

Credit: SPL / Photo Researchers, Inc.

Happy Birthday, Marie Curie

BD2274
Marie Curie, Polish scientist (November 7, 1867 - July 4, 1934).
Credit: Mary Evans / Photo Researchers, Inc.

Eternal Youth?

In the news:
"Signs of Aging Halted in the Lab"
By James Gallagher
BBC News online
November 2, 2011

BQ2739
Muscular atrophy.
Light micrograph of a section through muscle fibers showing an area affected by neurogenic muscular atrophy (bottom right). Normal muscle fibers are seen at top left. Nerve damage has lead to the muscle fibers becoming shrunken and atrophied (wasted). It is only the muscle fibers controlled by the damaged nerves
that are affected.

Credit: Biophoto Associates /
Photo Researchers, Inc.

Screening Cancer Screening

In the news:

"Considering When It Might Be Best Not to Know About Cancer"
By Gina Kolata
New York Times
October 30, 2011

SA6375
Mammography. Woman undergoing breast screening by X-ray mammography, a technique which reveals the fine details of internal breast tissues. The breast is compressed into a flat plane between a plastic sheet and a metal X-ray plate. Breast tissue is then exposed to low-dose X-rays from the X-ray machine (upper right) to form a mammogram. Mammography is used to routinely screen women in order to detect breast tumors at an early stage. Once a tumor has been located, other techniques are employed to identify it. Biopsy (tissue sampling) of the tumor will confirm whether it is cancerous. Photographed at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, Italy.

Credit: Mauro Fermariello / Photo Researchers, Inc.

Type 1 Diabetes

In the news:
"More Ways to Cope With Type 1 Diabetes"
By Jane E. Brody
New York Times online:
October 24, 2011

BT4760
Kindergarten teacher helps student (age 6)
with type one diabetes check her blood-sugar levels.
Credit: Ellen B. Senisi / Photo Researchers, Inc.

Check Your Receipt...for BPA

In the news:
"Check Your Receipt: It May Be Tainted"
By Rachel Nuwer
New York Times online:
November 1, 2011

SK9835
Bisphenol A, molecular model. This chemical is used in the plastics industry, both as an antioxidant and as a component of epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics. Atoms are represented as spheres are color-coded: carbon (black), oxygen (red) and hydrogen (white).
Credit: Dr. Mark J. Winter / Photo Researchers, Inc.