Colored Gallery

Osteocyte bone cell, SEM

Osteocyte bone cell. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of an osteocyte bone cell (blue) surrounded by bone tissue (pink). Osteocytes are osteoblasts (bone-producing cells) that have become trapped within bone cavities (lacunae, depressions in bone). They produce and secrete the organic matrix of the bone (osteoid). As soon as osteoid is formed, calcium salts crystallise inside it to form hard, mineralised bone. Magnification: x4000, when printed 10 centimetres wide

© STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Stalk-eyed fly, SEM

Stalk-eyed fly. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the head of a stalk-eyed fly (family Diopsidae). Stalk-eyed flies are mostly tropical insects, with one species being found in North America. The length of the stalks that their eyes are on varies and can be as long as their bodies. Although having their eyes on stalks allows a greater range of vision, it also poses an aerodynamic handicap. Magnification: x40 when printed at 10 centimetres wide

© CLOUDS HILL IMAGING LTD/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Solar activity, SDO image

Solar activity, SDO image. Coloured image of the surface of the Sun, showing one of an unusual series of eruptions that led to a series of fast puffs, which forced the slow ejection of a massive burst of solar plasma from the Sun's corona (outermost atmosphere). The puffs occurred roughly once every three hours. After around 12 hours, a much larger eruption of material began. Data, including that used to create this image, enabled scientists to conclude that the source of the puffs was a series of energetic jets and related flares - localised catastrophic releases of energy that spew material out from the Sun, into space. Imaged by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) in three wavelengths of light, on 17th January 2013

© Alzate/SDO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY