Images Dated 21st January 2004

Paraselena 15 January 1911. 9.30pm Cape Evans McMurdo Sound

Medium: watercolour. Artist: E.A.Wilson (1872-1912). Expedition: British Antarctic Expedition 1910-13 (Terra Nova). Paraselene, a moonlike optical illusion caused by moonlight passing through ice crystals in the upper atmosphere

© Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge

Colour, Meteorology, Painting, Watercolour

Lungs

Lungs in a wireframe body, computer artwork. The windpipe (trachea, grey) runs downwards from the neck. It branches (upper centre) into two bronchi, one for each of the two lungs. Each bronchus branches to form bronchioles, which themselves branch to form smaller bronchioles. This repeated branching forms numerous airways in each lung. The airways terminate in tiny air sacs called alveoli (not visible). The alveoli provide a large surface area for gaseous exchange. In the alveoli, oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged between the blood and the lungs. The lungs expand and contract with each breath. The shapes that they form in the chest are shown (dark blue)

© PASIEKA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Genetic identity

Genetic identity. Conceptual computer artwork of a hand, a fingerprint and a DNA microarray. These represent genetic fingerprinting and genetic identity. A DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) microarray is used to study thousands of genes at once. It is used to link genetic samples with known genes. The microarray is a large array of possible genes used to test the samples. If any of the samples match genes in the array, they bind to that site to form these coloured dots. The pattern of colours is then analysed. Microarrays can be used to study gene expression or detect mutations. Fingerprints are patterns of ridges on the fingertips. Both DNA and fingerprints are unique to each individual

© PASIEKA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY