Images Dated 1st July 1997

Huygens probe entering Titans atmosphere

Huygens probe at Titan. Artwork of the Huygens probe entering the atmosphere of Titan, the largest moon of Saturn (seen in the sky). Huygens will enter Titan's atmosphere of nitrogen and methane, making various atmospheric measurements while it decends. The probe will take about three minutes to slow down to 1440 km/h to allow the opening of the main parachute. The glowing shock wave in front of the probe will reach temperatures of up to 12, 000 Celsius. The probe is protected by a heat-shield, made from thermal tiles similar to those on the Space Shuttle. Huygens is a European project, part of NASA's Cassini spacecraft, and will arrive at Titan on 27 November 2004

© DAVID DUCROS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Artwork of a medical charlatan selling quack cures

Medical charlatan. Caricature of medical charlatan Georges Fattet selling vials of a "cure-all" medicine. Next to Fattet is a man with his jaw in a bandage, and a musician to attract the crowds. Fattet is claiming to have travelled around the world to find this drug. One stage of its manufacture supposedly involves boiling the extracts of certain plants in carp urine for 122 years. He is claiming that it can cure dental problems, broken bones, and can even be used to stop hens from laying eggs. As an added incentive for potential buyers, he is offering the medicine at half price. Drawn by Georges Frison (born 1850)

© NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY