Common Science

A select number of images highlighting natures most interesting looking minature creatures. From top left clockwise: a dust mite; a fly; a spider's spigot (web maker); a wasp's sting; the head of a flea; a red blood cell, platelet and leukocyte (white blood cell), and...... a maggot's face! The comedic/evil looking maggot's face, and the sinister dust mite whose alien appearance sums up it's single minded harvesting of our flakes of skin are favourites. These images were taken using an electron microscope, where focusing a beam of electrons rather than photons (light particles) enables high resolution (detail) at very high magnification.

Can you say cringe....

Recently whilst drinking in a pub near Holborn station, I realised I was near a museum I'd wanted to visit since I first moved to London. So with some great persuasive efforts I managed to entice my friends away from the warmth and comfort of an open fire and pint of ale to walk to the royal college of surgeons. In the basement of which is the Huntarian musuem, a collection of anatomical specimens either partially dissected to showcase the intricacies of the body, or exhibited to highlight interesting examples of errant homeostatic processes. Entering John Hunters massive collection, one is instantly staged by the array of formaldehyde filled jars, and instantly the curiousty and "where to start first" sensation takes over. I thought you could take pictures, but after one I was instantly chastised, here it is though (not the best example of the diverse array of anatomical specimens - so there's a website pic below as well) A brief aside to overview who John...