Difference Gallery

Primate skulls

Primate skulls. Coloured x-rays of the skulls of a gorilla (Gorilla gorilla, left), chimpanzee (Pan trogoldytes, centre) and human (Homo sapien, left). The gorilla skull is recoginsable by its pronounced brows and small cranial capacity. The chimpanzee's cranium is larger but considerably smaller than that of the human. This image could represent evolution

© D. ROBERTS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Europe at night, 1993-2003 changes

Europe at night, showing the change in illumination from 1993-2003. This data is based on satellite observations. Lights are colour-coded. Red lights appeared during that period. Orange and yellow areas are regions of high and low intensity lighting respectively that increased in brightness over the ten years. Grey areas are unchanged. Pale blue and dark blue areas are of low and high intensity lighting that decreased in brightness. Very dark blue areas were present in 1993 and had disappeared by 2003. Much of western and central Europe has brightened considerably. Some North Sea gas fields closed in the period

© NOAA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Cartoon, Don't Touch the Queen (Irish Church)

Cartoon, Don't Touch the Queen -- a satirical comment on Gladstone's Irish Church Suspensory Bill, which was carried against the Conservative government by a large majority. Disraeli protects the Queen (representing the Irish Church) against the reforming intentions of Gladstone and Bright. The legislation, which came into force the following year, separated the Church of Ireland from the Church of England, and meant that the Church of Ireland was no longer entitled to collect tithes from the Irish people. A controversial law, it helped to dismantle the Protestant Ascendancy. Date: 1868

© Mary Evans Picture Library