Images Dated 30th May 2003

Meningitis bacterium dividing

Neisseria meningitidis. Coloured Transmission electron micrograph of the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis, the agent which causes meningitis. These are non-motile, Gram-negative coccus (spherical) bacteria. At lower frame a cell has undergone a double cell division, producing 4 bacterial cells. Neisseria meningitidis is an obligate human parasite. It causes meningococcal (cerebrospinal) meningitis, the inflammation of connective tissue membranes lining the brain & spinal cord. Symptoms include headache, fever, muscle rigidity, delirium, sometimes death. Treatment with antibiotics. Magnification: x40, 500 at 6x7cm size

© DR KARI LOUNATMAA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Computer model of Earth with cold mantle, hot core

Computer modelling of Earth's interior. This image shows convection patterns in the mantle in a model in which the core of the Earth (white) is the source of internal heat, driving convection in the mantle. The colours show temperatures between 303 Kelvin (dark blue) and 1200 Kelvin (red). The small white arrows indicate the direction and speed of movement of the surface (maximum 9mm per year). Well-developed convection currents in the mantle have created volcanic plumes and hot spots (red). This Earth was modelled by Dr John Baumgardner using a Cray Y-MP computer. Compare with E400/010

© Los Alamos National Laboratory/Science Photo Library