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Lyme disease bacteria. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, the cause of Lyme disease. These spirochaete (spiral-shaped) bacteria are passed to humans through the bites of infected Ixodes sp. ticks. Symptoms of Lyme disease include skin lesions, muscle pain, neurological and cardiac abnormalities, and arthritis. Treatments include antibiotic and corticosteroid drugs.

Neutrophil engulfing MRSA. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a neutrophil white blood cell (bottom) engulfing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (MRSA, yellow). This process is called phagocytosis. MRSA is a round (coccus) Gram positive bacterium that is resistant to many commonly prescribed antibiotics. Neutrophils are the most abundant white blood cell and are part of the body's immune system.

Resting T lymphocytes. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of resting T lymphocytes from a human blood sample. T lymphocytes, or T cells, are a type of white blood cell and components of the body's immune system. They mature in the thymus. T lymphocytes recognise a specific site on the surface of pathogens or foreign objects (antigens), bind to it, and attract antibodies or cells to eliminate that antigen. Specimen courtesy of Professor Greg Towers, University College London. Magnification: x3000 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.

Additive manufacturing surface. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of sintered beads of pure titanium on the fracture surface of a metal component. Sometimes confused with 3D printing, additive manufacture is used to form high strength metal components by using a high energy computer guided laser to sinter together metal powders made up of tiny beads. These beads are on an unfinished surface, which would typically be precision machined to a smooth surface once the initial component is created layer by layer. Image width is 155 microns.

Pluripotent derived neurones. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Human neurons engineered from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) through Neurogenin 2 (Ngn2) overexpression are widely used to study neuronal differentiation mechanisms and to model neurological diseases. These Ngn2-induced neurons (Ngn2-iNs) functionally mature into morphologically complex and electrophysiological active neurons. Specimen courtesy of Professor Giampietro Schiavo, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL. Magnification: x800 when printed 10 centimetres wid

Nerve cell culture. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of new growth from a cultured sample from a spinal cord. The numerous branching strands are neurites, processes growing out of the nerve cell body (not seen). These connect to other neurites from other nerve cells, forming a network of nervous tissue. A neurite is either an axon or a dendrite, the former transmitting nerve impulses away from the nerve cell body, while the latter transmits nerve impulses towards the nerve cell body. Research into curing spinal paralysis, uses nerve tissue cultures to investigate methods of promoting neurite growth and neural regeneration. Magnification unknown.

Kidney stone crystals, scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Kidney stones are usually formed by the precipitation of the mineral salt calcium oxalate from the urine. The resulting hard, round stones (calculi) may cause severe pain, especially as they pass down the urinary tract. Large stones may need to be surgically removed or broken down using ultrasound therapy. Magnification: x2000 when printed 10cm wide.

Resting T lymphocytes. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of resting T lymphocytes from a human blood sample. T lymphocytes, or T cells, are a type of white blood cell and components of the body's immune system. They mature in the thymus. T lymphocytes recognise a specific site on the surface of pathogens or foreign objects (antigens), bind to it, and attract antibodies or cells to eliminate that antigen. Specimen courtesy of Professor Greg Towers, University College London. Magnification: x 6000 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.

Kidney blood vessels. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a resin cast of glomeruli capillaries (red) and the larger blood vessels (orange) that supply them with blood. Glomeruli are found in the kidneys. The core of a glomerulus is a tightly coiled ball of capillaries. The permeable capillary walls allow substances carried in the blood to be exchanged with the surrounding tissues. Each kidney has hundreds of glomeruli that filter waste from the blood. The resulting waste fluid drains to the bladder as urine. The cast was made by injecting resin into the blood vessels then chemically digesting the surrounding tissues.

Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria (red) in the lung of a burns patient. This Gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium is found in soil, water and as normal flora in the human intestine. However, it can cause serious wound, lung, skin and urinary tract infections, particularly in hospital patients. It produces extracellular polysaccharide (EPS), a sticky slime-like substance that enables it to grow in large masses (biofilms) and resist antibacterial agents such as antibiotics. Magnification: x5000 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.

Stem cells. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the surface of a clump of human embryonic stem cells (HESCs), showing surface detail. HESCs are pluripotent, which means that they are able to differentiate into any of the 200 cell types in the human body. The type of cell they mature into depends upon the biochemical signals they receive, though the cells seen here have not been exposed to growth factors. HESCs are being studied as a way to repair damaged tissue in diseases such as diabetes and Parkinson's. These cells were grown in 2005 at the Centre for Life, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK. Magnification: x2200 when printed 10cm wide.

Eye lens fibres. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a freeze-fracture of fibres from the lens of an eye. Lens cells lack a nuclei, and the main constituent of the cells is the protein crystallin. Tightly packed layers of lens fibres (as seen here) are referred to as laminae. The lens fibres are linked together via gap junctions (one seen here) and interdigitations of the cells. The transparency of the lens is thought to arise from the regular arrangement of these cells. Magnification: x2000 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.

Oral Streptococcus bacteria. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of chains of Streptococcus sp. bacteria from the mouth. Streptococcus bacteria are an example of cocci (round bacteria) that form chains. There are over 50 species of Streptococcus bacteria, some of which cause disease in humans.

Bone marrow stem cell on colagen fibrils. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a stem cell from adult bone marrow on the surface of cartilage. Bone marrow is the tissue found in the hollow interior of bones. It makes several different types of cells, including white blood cells (leucocytes), red blood cells (erythrocytes), cartilage cells (chondrocytes) and bone cells (osteocytes). Image width is 42.6 microns.

Butterfly wing scales. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of scales from the underside of a wing of an aega morpho (Morpho aega) butterfly. Layers of wing scales are transparent but tiny ridges on the scales break up and reflect light to give the scales their shimmering iridescent appearance. Magnification: x175 when printed 10 centimetres wide.

Kidney stone crystals. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a freeze-fracture through a kidney stone to show the crystalline structure. Kidney stones are usually formed by the precipitation of the mineral salt calcium oxalate from urine. The resulting hard, round stones (calculi) may cause severe pain, especially as they pass down the urinary tract. Large stones may need to be surgically removed or broken down using ultrasound therapy.

Retina blood vessels, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). The retina is the light-sensitive membrane that lines the back of the eye. Blood vessels (orange, pink) radiate out from the optic disc, which is the area where the optic nerve and blood vessels enter the eye. Due to this, it has no light-sensitive cells and is the cause of the blind spot. This image was created using a resin cast, where resin was injected into the blood vessels and then the surrounding tissues were chemically digested, leaving this structure behind.

Gall midge eye. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the compound eye of a gall midge (family Cecidomyiidae), showing the individual lenses (ommatidia).

T cells attacking cancer cell, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). The T cells (red) are attacking an oral squamous cancer cell (white). The cytotoxic (cell-killing) T cells are part of a natural immune response. Research being carried out in the field of nanomedicine is creating personalized cancer vaccines by loading neoantigens from a patient's tumour into nanoparticles. These nanoparticles are then used to activate the patient's own immune system, triggering the actions of T cells as seen here.

Red blood cells and platelets. Coloured scanning electon micrograph (SEM) of human erythrocytes (red blood cells) and a platelet aggregate (blue). Platelets are fragments of white blood cells that under normal circumstances are small and biconcave in form. However, if there is a break in the surface of a blood vessel the platelets come into contact with molecules they are not used to and become activated. They become amorphous in form, with long projections (pseudopodia) that help them adhere to other cells and each other, forming a clot. Magnification: x3000 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.

Caffeine crystals. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of anhydrous caffeine crystals (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine). They were produced by a process called sublimation. A liquid containing caffine, such as coffee, is frozen and heated to 238 degrees Celsius, causing the frozen liquid to vaporise without going through the liquid phase. The vapour is then condensed, which drives the water out and results in anhydrous crystals. Some of the crystals have symmetrically intergrown (upper centre, red and yellow). Caffine stimulates the central nervous system (CNS), increasing alertness and deferring fatigue. It occurs in coffee beans and tea leaves. Magnification: x400 at 10 centimetres high.

Organ of Corti. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the organ of Corti from the cochlea of the inner ear. The bony capsule that encloses the organ has been removed to reveal the organ's spiral structure. Rows of sensory hairs within the organ of Corti convert sound vibrations into nerve impulses that are sent along the auditory nerve to the brain. Different sound frequencies stimulate hairs in different positions along the spiral. Low frequencies stimulate those near the top of the spiral and high frequencies stimulate those near the bottom.

Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of bacteria cultured from a mobile phone. Tests have revealed the average handset carries 18 times more potentially harmful germs than a flush handle in a men's toilet. With frequent use phones remain warm, creating the ideal breeding ground for bacteria. With touch-screen phones, the same part of the phone touched with fingertips is pressed up against the face and mouth, increasing chances of infection. In tests E. coli, Haemophilus influenzae and MRSA were amongst infectious bacteria found on handsets. Common harmless bacteria include Staphylococcus epidermidis, Micrococcus, Streptococcus viridans, Moraxella, and bacillus species. Magnification: x3000 when printed at 10cm wide.

Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the surface of a long-playing record (L.P.), showing the concentric grooves. The L.P. is made by pressing the recording information onto a softened (by heating) PVC disc. The blank area (centre) is the interval between 2 tracks: note the dust particles. The stylus (an elliptical or spherical diamond) sits nicely in the V-shaped groove, and lateral vibrations are picked up by the stylus and transduced by a moving coil or moving magnet cartridge into an electrical signal, which passes through an amplifier to be heard on loudspeakers. Magnification: X 8 at 35mm size, X 56 at 8x10-inch size.

Ant and microchip. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a wood or heathland ant, Formica fusca, holding a microchip. The round compound eyes are seen above the long antennae. The mouthparts consist of toothed (serrated) mandibles which are holding a microchip. Microchips are used in computers and carry complex microscopic circuits printed onto thin wafers of silicon. The wood ant is social, and acts as a slave for the blood-red ant Formica sanguinea. Inseminated females of the blood-red ant invade wood ant nests, steal the pupae, and the ants that hatch are made to work for the strange queen. Magnification: x10 at 5x7cm size. Magnification: x22 at 6x4.5 inch size.

Red blood cells and platelets. Coloured scanning electon micrograph (SEM) of human erythrocytes (red blood cells) and a platelet aggregate (blue). Platelets are fragments of white blood cells that under normal circumstances are small and biconcave in form. However, if there is a break in the surface of a blood vessel the platelets come into contact with molecules they are not used to and become activated. They become amorphous in form, with long projections (pseudopodia) that help them adhere to other cells and each other, forming a clot. Magnification: x4000 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.

T lymphocyte and prostate cancer cell. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a T lymphocyte cell (yellow) attached to a prostate cancer cell. T lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that recognise a specific site (antigen) on the surface of cancer cells or pathogens and bind to it. Some T lymphocytes then signal for other immune system cells to eliminate the cell. The genetic changes that cause a cell to become cancerous lead to the presentation of tumour antigens on the cell's surface. Magnification: x3500 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.

E. coli induced cell death. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a macrophage white blood cell (centre) that is being destroyed by toxins released by Escherichia coli bacteria (bright blue). These toxins disrupt the macrophage's cell membrane, resulting in death of the cell.

T lymphocytes and cancer cell. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of T lymphocyte cells (pink) attached to a cancer cell. T lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that recognise a specific site (antigen) on the surface of cancer cells or pathogens and bind to it. Some T lymphocytes then signal for other immune system cells to eliminate the cell. The genetic changes that cause a cell to become cancerous lead to the presentation of tumour antigens on the cell's surface. Magnification: x2300 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.

Blood cells. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of human blood showing red and white cells. Red blood cells (erythrocytes) have a characteristic biconcave-disc shape and are numerous. These large cells contain haemoglobin, a red pigment by which oxygen is transported around the body. They are more numerous than white blood cells, one of which is visible in this sample (white). White blood cells (leucocytes) are rounded cells with microvilli projections from the cell surface. Leucocytes play an important role in the immune response of the body. Magnification: x3,500 at 5x7cm size. x 7,750 at 6x4"

MRSA ingestion by white blood cell. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria (round) being ingested by a white blood cell. MRSA is a gram-positive, round (coccus) bacterium that is resistant to many commonly prescribed antibiotics. It is carried by around a third of the population without causing any symptoms. However, in vulnerable people, such as those that have recently had surgery, it can cause severe illness due to its high resistance to antibiotics. It can result in wound infections, pneumonia and blood poisoning.

Scanning electron micrograph of a diamond stylus travelling through the grooves of a long-playing, stereo record. The grooves are cut into a flat disc of polyvinyl chloride. The groove varies with the intensity of the music: the straighter the groove the quieter the music, the wavier the groove (as here) the louder the music. The stylus picks up the music modulation from the sloping sides & transmits it to the cartridge, where a piezoelectric crystal or an electromagnet converts the vibration into an electrical signal. Although thoroughly cleaned, this needle is encrusted with dirt. Magnification: x30 at 35mm size, x220 at 8x10-inch size. Reference: MICROCOSMOS, figure 9.16, page 182.

Neuron (pyramidal nerve cell) growing on the surface of an astrocytic neuroglial cell (culture), coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Neurons are (also known as nerve cells) are cells of the nervous system that are specialized to carry messages through an electrochemical process. They have special cells called astrocytes (also known as astroglia) that are a type of neuroglial cell that provides support functions in the central nervous tissue and spinal cord. They perform a variety of tasks, from axon guidance and synaptic support, to the control of the blood brain barrier and blood flow. Magnification: x825 when shortest axis printed at 25 millimetres.

Human embryo. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a human embryo at the 16-cell stage on the tip of a pin. The ball of cells (yellow) of the embryo is known as a morula, a cluster of almost identical, rounded cells, each containing a central nucleus. This 16-cell embryo is about three days old. It is at the early stage of transformation from a single cell to a human composed of millions of cells. The cells multiply by repeated cleavage divisions (mitosis) and will form a hollow ball of cells (the blastocyst). Development of the blastocyst occurs before the embryo implants into the wall of the uterus (womb). Magnification: x130 at 6x7cm size. Magnification: x450 at 8x10 inch size.

Stem cell, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Stem cells can differentiate into any other cell type. There are three main types of mammalian stem cell: embryonic stem cells, derived from blastocysts; adult stem cells, which are found in some adult tissues; and cord blood stem cells, which are found in the umbilical cord. The cell seen here is destined to become a blood cell. During blood cell development in adults, stem cells develop through a process known as haemopoiesis. Some red blood cells (erythrocytes) can be seen here (red). Blood cells have short lifespans and are therefore constantly produced by the bone marrow.

Kidney glomeruli, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). The cells that usually surround the glomeruli have been removed to reveal the coiled capillaries at the core of the glomeruli and the blood vessels that serve them. The function of the glomeruli is to filter waste products from the blood. After the reabsorption of certain substances elsewhere in the kidney, the liquid is transported to the bladder as urine. Magnification: x80 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.