Winners of its 2011 International Science & Engineering Visual Challenge

[snagglepuss]

Amazing illustrations.

One illustration shows tumor death-cell receptors on breast cancer cell. This artist's illustration shows a monoclonal antibody (green) developed by scientists at the University of Alabama binding to a 'death cell receptor' on a cancer cell (top left). This triggers the cell's inbuilt suicide program. However the blurb doesn't explain what is that cell that looks like an octopus. Any guesses?




http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/gallery/2012/feb/03/science-magazine-visual-challenge-pictures#/?picture=385422320&index=3

[Warpy]

1. I think both Cthulu style drawings are supposed to be cancer cells

but the one in the center of the illustration is too far away for the receptors to be seen.

Cancer cells are ugly things, but not terribly dramatic if drawn to life. Making them Cthulu like shows how nasty they are.

[snagglepuss]

2. That's interesting. Despite the exaggeration do cancer cells have extensions?

[Warpy]

3. Depends on the cancer

but breast cancer cells are large with irregular borders, unlike the surrounding healthy cells and some of them do have projections radiating out from the cell body.

They just don't look quite like Cthulu.

[momto3]

4. I posted this in n2docs thread and thought it worth reposting here.

For more "science as art" you should visit the Olympus website. They host an annual competition for digital imaging. Some of the images are stunning.

http://www.olympusbioscapes.com/gallery/2011/index.html