Images Dated 25th February 2003

MAP microwave background

Cosmic microwave background. Whole sky image of the cosmic microwave background made by the MAP (Microwave Anisotropy Probe) spacecraft. This map indicates that the age of the universe is around 13.7 billion years. The data also reveal that the universe is expanding at 71 kilometres per second per megaparsec (1 Mpc = 3262 light years). The colours reveal variations in the temperature of the universe in all directions. This correlates to the density of material at the time when the universe became transparent to radiation, about 380, 000 years after its creation. The denser regions (red, yellow) formed the seeds of galaxies and other structures. Data obtained in 2003

© NASA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Historical birth deformities

Historical birth deformities. Historical artwork of three types of congenital (present from birth) deformities. The presence of extra arms and legs (upper centre) is usually due to the presence of a parasitic twin. This is a type of conjoined twin where the weaker twin has no brain or heart and is present only as extra body parts. Shortened and deformed limbs (lower right) is called phocomelia. Bilateral hip dislocation, exposed intestines and a skull deformity (lower left) are also possible. Birth deformities can result from genetic defects or drugs or toxic chemicals. Artwork published in Physica Curiosa (G. Schott, Germany, 1662)

© SCIENCE, INDUSTRY & BUSINESS LIBRARY/NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY