Colored Gallery

Brain blood vessels, 3D angiogram C007/1981

Brain blood vessels. Coloured 3D lateral angiogram (blood vessel X-ray) of the blood vessels in the brain of a healthy 32-year-old. The blood vessel rising from the neck is the left internal carotid artery. The cerebral arteries (orange) are shown with the cerebral veins (blue). This image was produced by Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA), using a contrast medium to highlight the blood vessels

© ZEPHYR/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Head of a honey bee, SEM

Head of a honey bee (Apis mellifera), coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). The compound eyes (one seen) are either side of the antennae. Below these is the bee's mouthparts, including its proboscis (light brown, lower left). Bees use their proboscis to collect nectar from a wide range of flowering plants, bringing it back to their hive to store it and form honey. The honey is used as food by bee larva, and is also collected by beekeepers for human consumption. Magnification: x25 when printed at 10 centimetres tall

© THOMAS DEERINCK, NCMIR/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Activated macrophage, SEM C015/6375

Activated macrophage. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of an active macrophage white blood cell. Macrophages are cells of the body's immune system that are found in the tissues rather than in the circulating blood. They recognise foreign particles, including bacteria, pollen and dust, and phagocytose (engulf) and digest them. In the active state the cell surfaces have numerous cytoplasmic extensions (thread-like), which are used for locomotion within the tissues as the cell seeks out and engulfs the foreign particles. Magnification: x2700, when printed 10 centimetres wide

© STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY