
The Dark Bacillus Crystal
Toxic "parasporal" crystals of Bacillus thuringiensis. Jim Buckman/ P.R. Johnston. Public domain. In this photograph are elegant, microscopic agents of death.
A Blog About the Weird Wonderfulness of Life on Earth
Toxic "parasporal" crystals of Bacillus thuringiensis. Jim Buckman/ P.R. Johnston. Public domain. In this photograph are elegant, microscopic agents of death.
The Ediacaran fossils Dickinsonia (big guys) and Parvancorina (little shield-shaped guy at lower left). Photo by Gregory Retallack. Does these look like lichens to you?
Conifers of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres: Pinus ponderosa (my all-time favorite, among some smaller spruces and firs) in California and Araucaria angustifolia in Brazil.
"Ghosts" of Mycoplasma mobile -- stripped down cytoskeleton covered in the tattered remains of the cell membrane. Source: Nakane and Miyata 2007.
Spores of Exserohilum rostratum, stained blue. Notice the brown pigment of the cell walls; this is melanin, the same pigment that darkens human skin.
Heterosigma akashiwo -- a protist that can have its photosynthesis and eat other things too. Note the prominent chloroplasts plastered around the inside wall of the cell.
Blogger's note: I'm still away from the blog taking care of important life stuff, but I'll be back soon! This post originally appeared on March 28, 2010.
Blogger's note: I'm still away from the blog for a few weeks. In the meantime, here is another post from the Artful Amoeba archive. It originally appeared on October 4, 2010.
Blogger's note: I am away for the next several weeks. In the meantime, I'm bringing you some classic Artful Amoeba posts. This one was originally posted on January 18, 2010.
Blogger's note: I am going to be out of blog contact for the next several weeks as I get hitched (yay!), honeymoon (double yay!), and move (goodbye Colorado!