Images Dated 15th August 2003

Coronavirus

Coronavirus. This type of virus is thought tobe responsible for the fatal outbreak of SARS(severe acute respiratory syndrome) in early 2003.Related coronaviruses cause the common cold andsome forms of gastroenteritis. They take theirname from their crown (corona) of surface proteins(red). These are made ofs glycoprotein, achemical that binds to cells in the virus's host, allowing it to enter them. The virus is coated ina membrane (green) that it derives from the cellsthat it invades. Inside this is the core, anicosahedral protein capsid (purple) thatencloses the RNA genetic material (yellow). SARSoriginated in China in late 2002

© Russell Kightley/Science Photo Library

Miniature thermal conductivity detector

Miniature thermal conductivity detector. Coloured scanning electron micrograph of a detector that can be used to measure thermal conductivity of gases. It contains a gold wire (upper left to lower right) that is 200 times thinner than a human hair. When a reaction occurs between gases the change in composition results in a change in the temperature and consequently resistance of the wire. This triggers a signal that the reaction has occurred. Such detectors will be incorporated into microreactors to produce small amounts of chemicals. This detector was designed by the German technology company Siemens. Magnification: x670 when printed at 10 centimetres wide

© VOLKER STEGER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Illustration of the Bell telephone

Illustration of the Bell Telephone pictured in Du Moncel's Le Telephone, published in 1882. Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) inventor of this telephone system filed a patent in 1876, but his priority as absolute inventor was questioned by Elisha Gray of Western Electric who similarly filed a patent on the same day 14th February. After long litigation, Bell won the most valuable patent ever issued in the US'. In the original telephone system (seen here) the speaker and receiver were of identical construction

© Dr Jeremy Burgess/Science Photo Library