Science Visualized

Materials Science

Butterfly-inspired nanostructures can sort light

Scientists re-created a nanostructure found on butterflies that can separate out circularly polarized light, a characteristic that may be useful for telecommunications.

Oceans

Here’s where 17,000 ocean research buoys ended up

A combined look at 35 years’ worth of ocean buoy movements reveals the currents that feed into ocean garbage patches.

Plants

Here’s what a leaf looks like during a fatal attack of bubbles

Office equipment beats synchrotrons in showing how drought lets air bubbles kill the water-carrier network of veins in plant leaves.

Astronomy

To find ET, look at who’s (maybe) looking at us

To listen for aliens, two astronomers suggest that we focus on stars whose inhabitants can see Earth periodically cross in front of our sun.

Astronomy

There’s far more to the galaxy than meets the eye

A new map of the galaxy as seen in submillimeter light reveals intricate details from nearby nebulas to the far-flung galactic center.

Astronomy

The moon’s poles have no fixed address

Ancient deposits of lunar water ice mark where the moon’s poles used to be.

Science & Society

Science gives clues to ‘The Bedroom’ as van Gogh painted it

Art and science converge in a visualization of the original colors of Vincent van Gogh’s “The Bedroom.”

Oceans

Swirls of plankton decorate the Arabian Sea

The dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans is taking over in the Arabian Sea, posing a potential threat to its ecosystem.

Neuroscience

Brain cells aglow after viral delivery

The virus AAV-PHP.B proves best at delivering genes to brain cells in mice. Similar viruses may eventually be used for gene therapy in humans.

Life

Images probe artery-hardening plaques

Zooming in on hardened arteries shows researchers which plaques pose heart attack risks.

Chemistry

Frozen oil droplets morph and shine

Scientists can turn oil droplets into an array of crystalline shapes by manipulating the chemistry and temperature of the droplets’ surroundings.

Animals

Capturing the wonders of hummingbird flight

Recent computer simulations reveal how hummingbirds manipulate the air around them to aid in flight.