Images Dated 20th May 2004

Light echoes from exploding star

Light echoes from an exploding star. Hubble Space Telescope image of an illuminated dust shell around the star v838 Monocerotis. This star underwent a massive brightening in January 2002, temporarily becoming the brightest star in the galaxy. The light from this outburst reflects from a series of dust shells around the star, which are thought to have been ejected during previous activity. The phenomenon allows study of the fine structure of the dust shells, which could help explain why the star behaves as it does. This image was taken on 8th February 2004 by the Advanced Camera for Surveys

© NASA/ESA/STSCI/H.BOND/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

An A-10 Thunderbolt, F-86 Sabre, P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang in flight

A US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft (left), a F-86 Sabre jet fighter (middle), a vintage P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft (bottom), and a P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft participate in a Heritage Flight formation showing four generations of Air Force Fighters. The Heritage Flight was part of the Airpower over Hampton Roads show at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia

© Stocktrek Images

Cicada insects

Cicada insects (Carineta aratayensis). These specimens have been preserved so that their haemolymph (body fluid) can be extracted. Juvenile cicadas spend many years undergound before emerging as adults to live in treetops. Adult males attract females by producing one of the loudest sounds of any insect, from special organs called tymbals. These and other insects are being screened in search of new antibiotic, anti- inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-cancer drugs by a company called Entomed, based in Strasbourg in France. Between 1999 and 2003, Entomed analysed more than 175 novel molecules with potential medical effects

© VOLKER STEGER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY