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Science is Beautiful
Written By: Isabel Powell
In our bustling, blue-light-filled world, we often have to remind ourselves to take a moment and appreciate the beauty of the natural world around us. For most, this might involve a quick walk through a park or forest, listening to waves crash against the shore, or listening to the first birdsongs in the spring. However, we often neglect the inherent beauty of the world too small to see. Our lives are built by trillions of precise chemical reactions and complex biological structures, yet most of us hardly know how intricately and beautifully designed they are. From the glimmer of bioluminescent organisms to the frantic dashing of neurotransmitters, it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate just how wonderfully complicated the natural world is.
There are two factors preventing us from enjoying the intricacies of the microscopic world: its tiny size and its complexity. Selective staining methods add colors that allow us to detect distinct parts of cells or chemical compounds. Microscopes then magnify the small particles and cells, exposing us to the chaotic world of biology. They allow us to identify what we are looking at, sense movement, and learn about the inner workings of this nearly invisible world.
The Immune System: Protecting You and Looking Good Doing It
On the left and right, a vibrant macrophage is brought to life by a 3View electron microscope at the University of Queensland. Macrophages are part of the immune system; they respond to infections by engulfing a pathogen and alerting other immune cells to the presence of an invader. On the outside of the macrophage, the colors illuminate the cell membrane and a highly structured cytoskeleton in a beautiful display. We can detect macrophages even without a microscope. For example, when a cut becomes
infected, the cut may become sore and warm. This heat and pain are proof that macrophages are at work protecting you from foreign invaders!
A pathogen is a microorganism that can cause disease.
