Content by The Scientist

The six phases of the cell cycle (from top left to bottom right) demonstrated by an embryo of the marine worm Cerebratulus marginatus and captured by confocal microscopy

This colorful nudibranch (Triopha catalinae), which is a soft-bodied, marine gastropod mollusk, not to be confused with sea slugs, is one of more than 100 species that live on the rocky shores of California.

Trails of fluorescent beads illuminate the swirling, cilia-driven water flow around reef-building coral (Pocillopora damicornis)

This microscope image captures light passing through dissolving salt crystals, which are surrounded by salt-loving bacteria.

December 2012's selection of notable quotes

The Scientist’s 5th installment of its annual competition attracted submissions from across the life science spectrum. Here are the best and brightest products of the year.

This false-colored micrograph shows rod-shaped E. coli attached to a glowing green surface via anchor-like fibers, which the bacteria use to invade human tissues. 

A bright-field image of an oak (Quercus) leaf with tufted trichomes, which are wispy appendages--often hairs--on plants and some protists.

This confocal microscope image shows the strands of actin filaments (blue) with their nuclei (red) from zebrafish muscle, which constantly regenerate to replace damaged muscle.

This false-colored scanning electron micrograph shows the underside of a bed bug (Cimex lectularius), revealing its skin-piercing mouth parts that suck blood meals from its victims.

Star-like colonies of this cyanobacteria, Gloeotrichia, bloom in freshwater lakes.

This is a false-colored scanning electron micrograph of a zebrafish embryo, a popular disease model and study system for drug development and cancer research.  

The Scientist is thankful for this beautiful centerpiece of mosaic corn, which around 60 years ago helped Nobel Laureate Barbara McClintock discover jumping genetic elements.

Color-coded by depth, this confocal image stack shows the lenses, retina, and optic nerves of a Daddy long-legs (Phalangium opilio).

The Seychelles' giant millipedes play a critical role in nutrient cycling as these leggy islanders recycle leaf-litter, but their job is currently threatened by invasive mammals, plants and humans.