The Best Science Visualizations of the Year
Browse through the winning images that turn scientific exploration into art
- By Laura Helmuth and Sarah Zielinski
- Smithsonian.com, February 15, 2012

(Image courtesy of Andrew Noske (NCMIR), Tom Deerinck (NCMIR), Horng Ou (Salk Institute))
A People's Choice award goes to this illustration of a cell undergoing mitosis. The highlighted molecule seeming to fly out of the dividing cell represents a fluorescent protein called “MiniSOG” that scientists are beginning to use to refine their electron microscope images.











Comments (7)
my late husband did fractals on the computer that looled alot like this!
Posted by mary on April 18,2012 | 12:31 PM
What is this? Green antibodies attacking a tentacled breast cancer cell.
Posted by Andy on March 2,2012 | 01:36 PM
Typo: Instead of "Ti2ALc2", I think you mean "Ti2AlC2". [That's titanium aluminum carbide, described elsewhere as "Advanced Damage-Tolerant Ceramics: Candidates for Nuclear Structural Applications". References:
(1) E. N. Hoffman, M. W. Barsoum, R. L. Sindelar, D. Tallman. 2010, “MAX Phases and Their Potential for Nuclear Reactor Applications,” American Nuclear Society: 2010 Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA June 13-17, 2010
(2) E. N. Hoffman, D. W. Vinson, R. L. Sindelar, D. J. Tallman, G. Kohse and M. W. Barsoum, “MAX Phase Carbides and Nitrides: Properties for Future Nuclear Power Plant Applications,” submitted for publication in Journal of Nuclear Materials.
Posted by Paul Walsh on February 20,2012 | 05:22 PM
Based on flakes of titanium-aluminium-carbide (Ti3AlC2). When the researchers removed aluminium a new two-dimensional material remained. In the two-dimensional structure, the electrons travel 100 times faster than in silicon, today’s dominant semiconductor.
Posted by Jer on February 19,2012 | 01:21 PM
Very cool. Sounds weird, but is it possible to purchase this image for hanging in my house?
Posted by Larry on February 18,2012 | 12:39 PM
Wait, what is this? And what is the scale?
Posted by Amanda on February 17,2012 | 09:46 PM
This is very interesting.i would love to see Android read more.
Posted by therese abdali on February 17,2012 | 12:36 PM