Comments on: What's the most iconic scientific image? http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 20 Jun 2013 11:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: fleb http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179997 fleb Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179997 As a developmental biologist I would definitively add to this list the "Homunculus" as famously drawn in 1694 in the publication "Essai de dioptrique" by Nicolas Hartsoeker. It illustrates the preformationism theory that gained popularity among scientist after the discovery of the spermatozoids in 1677 by the microscopist Antoni van leeuwenhoek. Preformationists believed that embryos were originating from small preformed animals contained in the eggs (ovism) or the spermatozoids (spermism). They were opposed to the epigenesis theory stating that embryos would in fact progressively gain complexity during their development. Preformation and epigenesis caused huge debates during the XVIII th century.Preformationism was later discarded in favor of the Epigenesis and cellular theory thanks to the discovery of mammalian ovum by Karl Ernst von Baer in 1826 and the first description of the human egg by Allen in 1928.http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/HomunculusLarge.pngcould someone add it for me ?or send an invite to join Quora ?CheersFleb As a developmental biologist I would definitively add to this list the “Homunculus” as famously drawn in 1694 in the publication “Essai de dioptrique” by Nicolas Hartsoeker. It illustrates the preformationism theory that gained popularity among scientist after the discovery of the spermatozoids in 1677 by the microscopist Antoni van leeuwenhoek. Preformationists believed that embryos were originating from small preformed animals contained in the eggs (ovism) or the spermatozoids (spermism). They were opposed to the epigenesis theory stating that embryos would in fact progressively gain complexity during their development. Preformation and epigenesis caused huge debates during the XVIII th century.Preformationism was later discarded in favor of the Epigenesis and cellular theory thanks to the discovery of mammalian ovum by Karl Ernst von Baer in 1826 and the first description of the human egg by Allen in 1928.http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/HomunculusLarge.pngcould someone add it for me ?or send an invite to join Quora ?CheersFleb

]]> By: Frank Summers http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179909 Frank Summers Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179909 The one hand: 1.The Enola Gay 's last shot on the bombing run. 2. The first Atomic Tests photos 3.the Bikini Atoll fusion bomb test 4.The racial measurement illustrations for various genocides 5. The first fuzzy photos from Hubble The other hand: 1. Apollo images of the feather and hammer falling together 2. The electron microscopy of human cells 3.The Vitruvian man(as mentioned) 4. The DNA supermolecule chart (as mentioned) 5. The good Hubble pics of wide angle (as mentioned) 6. The  representation of Mendel's peas The one hand:
1.The Enola Gay ‘s last shot on the bombing run.
2. The first Atomic Tests photos
3.the Bikini Atoll fusion bomb test
4.The racial measurement illustrations for various genocides
5. The first fuzzy photos from Hubble

The other hand:
1. Apollo images of the feather and hammer falling together
2. The electron microscopy of human cells
3.The Vitruvian man(as mentioned)
4. The DNA supermolecule chart (as mentioned)
5. The good Hubble pics of wide angle (as mentioned)
6. The  representation of Mendel’s peas

]]> By: Camp Freddie http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179774 Camp Freddie Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179774 I'd go with the hubble deep field or this: http://www.zo.utexas.edu/faculty/antisense/DownloadfilesToL.html You really need a 52-foot piece of paper to see it properly though... The 'fuzz' on the outside of the circle is the names of various life forms. The number of species represented is approximately the square-root of the number of species thought to exist on Earth(i.e., three thousand out of an estimated nine million species), or about 0.18% of the 1.7 millionspecies that have been formally described and named. Image is free for non-commercial educational use, courtesy of David M. Hillis, Derrick Zwickl, and Robin Gutell, University of Texas I’d go with the hubble deep field or this:
http://www.zo.utexas.edu/faculty/antisense/DownloadfilesToL.html

You really need a 52-foot piece of paper to see it properly though…
The ‘fuzz’ on the outside of the circle is the names of various life forms.
The number of species represented is approximately the square-root of the number of species thought to exist on Earth(i.e., three thousand out of an estimated nine million species), or about 0.18% of the 1.7 millionspecies that have been formally described and named.
Image is free for non-commercial educational use, courtesy of David M. Hillis, Derrick Zwickl, and Robin Gutell, University of Texas

]]> By: Thorzdad http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179597 Thorzdad Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179597 Gotta go with the Vitruvian Man, too, as the most iconic. Age and ubiquity. Gotta go with the Vitruvian Man, too, as the most iconic. Age and ubiquity.

]]> By: Percy Paradise http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179575 Percy Paradise Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179575 How about a Double Helix How about a Double Helix

]]> By: msbpodcast http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179576 msbpodcast Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179576 I did a couple of shows (on MSBpodcast) about the homunculi (there are two, one sensory and one motor control) on the surface of your brain. It was basically about how MS and brain lesions screw around with perception (phantom pain or numbness) and control (spasticity). I did a couple of shows (on MSBpodcast) about the homunculi (there are two, one sensory and one motor control) on the surface of your brain.

It was basically about how MS and brain lesions screw around with perception (phantom pain or numbness) and control (spasticity).

]]> By: QuantumLeap http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179530 QuantumLeap Wed, 03 Aug 2011 08:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179530 One of the bleeding-edge scientific projects of our time, the LHC, produced a bunch of iconic images. Perhaps the most famous is this one, illustrating the result of a high-energy collision. One of the bleeding-edge scientific projects of our time, the LHC, produced a bunch of iconic images. Perhaps the most famous is this one, illustrating the result of a high-energy collision.

]]> By: frankienose http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179415 frankienose Wed, 03 Aug 2011 03:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179415 the plaques on the Pioneer spacecrafts: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_plaque the plaques on the Pioneer spacecrafts:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_plaque

]]> By: Bodhipaksa Dharmacari http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179396 Bodhipaksa Dharmacari Wed, 03 Aug 2011 02:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179396 Even though it's no longer considered accurate, the old image of ape, to hominin, to caveman, to modern human is as iconic as you can get, to the extent that it's a widely parodied cliché. Even though it’s no longer considered accurate, the old image of ape, to hominin, to caveman, to modern human is as iconic as you can get, to the extent that it’s a widely parodied cliché.

]]> By: Snig http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179392 Snig Wed, 03 Aug 2011 02:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179392 I would think one important one is the Gary Larson Far Side with the family of protozoan's sitting on the couch in their protozoan living room, one shouts "look out, it's a coverslip" and the next scene is a more classic muddled micrograph.  It neatly conveys the distinction between in vivo and in vitro, as well as a general warning of making sure that your observation of a event or the artifact of the parameters of your experiment do not effect what you think you see in science. I would think one important one is the Gary Larson Far Side with the family of protozoan’s sitting on the couch in their protozoan living room, one shouts “look out, it’s a coverslip” and the next scene is a more classic muddled micrograph.  It neatly conveys the distinction between in vivo and in vitro, as well as a general warning of making sure that your observation of a event or the artifact of the parameters of your experiment do not effect what you think you see in science.

]]> By: Stephen Higgins http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179356 Stephen Higgins Wed, 03 Aug 2011 01:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179356 I would add Rosalind Franklin's x-ray crystallography photograph 51 of DNA. I would add Rosalind Franklin’s x-ray crystallography photograph 51 of DNA.

]]> By: Mark Dow http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179317 Mark Dow Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179317 There is still some debate about this. Here's a good reference for the penis: http://www.jneurosci.org/content/25/25/5984.full From the introduction: The isolated location of the genital of the homunculus previously bothered Penfield's contemporaries; his scholar J. Kershman, known for his wit, pitied the creature, "His happiness founded on things near his toes; That need not always be numb" There is still some debate about this. Here’s a good reference for the penis:

http://www.jneurosci.org/content/25/25/5984.full

From the introduction: The isolated location of the genital of the homunculus previously bothered Penfield’s contemporaries; his scholar J. Kershman, known for his wit, pitied the creature, “His happiness founded on things near his toes; That need not always be numb”

]]> By: Calimecita http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179307 Calimecita Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179307 I second Crn Dff's vote for Darwin's Tree. I find that image incredibly moving and inspirational, and it summarizes the idea that changed the way we see life.  I second Crn Dff’s vote for Darwin’s Tree. I find that image incredibly moving and inspirational, and it summarizes the idea that changed the way we see life. 

]]> By: s2redux http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179277 s2redux Tue, 02 Aug 2011 23:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179277 Muybridge's <i>The Horse in Motion</i>; the story behind it pretty much epitomizes the value of the scientific method. (Unless your definition of "scientific method" includes the attributed sharing of results ;-) Muybridge’s The Horse in Motion; the story behind it pretty much epitomizes the value of the scientific method. (Unless your definition of “scientific method” includes the attributed sharing of results ;-)

]]> By: redux42 http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179256 redux42 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 23:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179256 Heh.  Funny anecdote about that image.  In college in my intro to cognitive science course they put that image up on the projector.  A guy raised his hand and the professor called on him.  He asked "what about the 'naughty bits?'"  The professor turned red and continued with his talk. Heh.  Funny anecdote about that image.  In college in my intro to cognitive science course they put that image up on the projector.  A guy raised his hand and the professor called on him.  He asked “what about the ‘naughty bits?’”  The professor turned red and continued with his talk.

]]> By: Heath Graham http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179229 Heath Graham Tue, 02 Aug 2011 23:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179229 I would have gone Hooke's flea myself. I would have gone Hooke’s flea myself.

]]> By: Max Hodges http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179150 Max Hodges Tue, 02 Aug 2011 22:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179150 Phoebe Gloeckner's illustrations from The Atrocity Exhibition http://24.media.tumblr.com/ECkGDunu4mljz8z7gM5kdOFro1_500.jpg http://researchpubs.com/Blog/wp-content/uploads/wpsc/product_images/atexfull-2.jpg Phoebe Gloeckner’s illustrations from The Atrocity Exhibition

http://24.media.tumblr.com/ECkGDunu4mljz8z7gM5kdOFro1_500.jpg
http://researchpubs.com/Blog/wp-content/uploads/wpsc/product_images/atexfull-2.jpg

]]> By: agthorn1981 http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179133 agthorn1981 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 22:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179133 50 years from now, someone will answer this question with "the Haters Gonna Hate motor protein gif." 50 years from now, someone will answer this question with “the Haters Gonna Hate motor protein gif.”

]]> By: Meditheraces http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179134 Meditheraces Tue, 02 Aug 2011 22:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179134 A scientific genius and a humanitarian, also can be funny: Albert Einstein A scientific genius and a humanitarian, also can be funny: Albert Einstein

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179102 Antinous / Moderator Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179102 <a href="http://images.wikia.com/mst3k/images/3/31/Brainwouldntdie.jpg" rel="nofollow">Well, duh.</a> Well, duh.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179099 Antinous / Moderator Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179099 <a href="http://images.wikia.com/mst3k/images/3/31/Brainwouldntdie.jpg" rel="nofollow">Well, duh.</a> Well, duh.

]]> By: Blinde Schildpad http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179063 Blinde Schildpad Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179063 Haven't checked if it's already in there, but the <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hubble_deep_field.jpg" rel="nofollow">Hubble Deep Field</a> picture always chokes me up a little. Haven’t checked if it’s already in there, but the Hubble Deep Field picture always chokes me up a little.

]]> By: iCowboy http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179057 iCowboy Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179057 Not an individual image, but the compilation of photos taken by Gary Rosenquist of Mount St. Helens going from a minor media celebrity to outright killer has to be one of the most awe-inspiring things I have ever seen. He might well be the first person ever to see a volcano come apart like that as one side of the mountain slides away and releases the highly pressurised magma underneath. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmsxmbVYMHo&feature=related If not, then the image shot by Voyager of the limb of Io and the eruption plume that showed there were other geologically active places in the Solar System. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00379 Not an individual image, but the compilation of photos taken by Gary Rosenquist of Mount St. Helens going from a minor media celebrity to outright killer has to be one of the most awe-inspiring things I have ever seen. He might well be the first person ever to see a volcano come apart like that as one side of the mountain slides away and releases the highly pressurised magma underneath.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmsxmbVYMHo&feature=related

If not, then the image shot by Voyager of the limb of Io and the eruption plume that showed there were other geologically active places in the Solar System.
http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00379

]]> By: kktkkr http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179043 kktkkr Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179043 One for the digital age: Output from Conway's Game Of Life. (More specifically, a portion of oscillating output as generated from random initial states after sufficiently many ticks.) Note that the image in this case is not a photo, since it is computer-generated. In fact, two images generated from different initial states will look similar at first glance, even though they are very different pixel-for-pixel. The structures (on a small scale, oscillators, and on a large scale, the spacings between oscillators) are instantly recognizable to those who have seen the cellular automaton in action, hence it can be considered iconic. It also symbolizes the complexity-from-simplicity concept that can be found in chaos theory, artificial intelligence etc.. In fact, the idea that life can be simulated by a machine is part of the reason why this captured the imagination of the public. One for the digital age: Output from Conway’s Game Of Life. (More specifically, a portion of oscillating output as generated from random initial states after sufficiently many ticks.)

Note that the image in this case is not a photo, since it is computer-generated. In fact, two images generated from different initial states will look similar at first glance, even though they are very different pixel-for-pixel.
The structures (on a small scale, oscillators, and on a large scale, the spacings between oscillators) are instantly recognizable to those who have seen the cellular automaton in action, hence it can be considered iconic.
It also symbolizes the complexity-from-simplicity concept that can be found in chaos theory, artificial intelligence etc.. In fact, the idea that life can be simulated by a machine is part of the reason why this captured the imagination of the public.

]]> By: bbonyx http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179038 bbonyx Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179038 <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/MDMA_%28simple%29.svg" rel="nofollow">My favorite molecule</a> ;P My favorite molecule ;P

]]> By: Oskar http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179028 Oskar Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179028 I don't really know if it's eligable, but personally, the top image on the wikipedia article for cluster headaches is one of the most beautiful, grotesque and terrifying illustrations of a medical condition I've ever seen. And, from what I understand of the disease, it's pretty accurate, mild even. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_headaches I don’t really know if it’s eligable, but personally, the top image on the wikipedia article for cluster headaches is one of the most beautiful, grotesque and terrifying illustrations of a medical condition I’ve ever seen. And, from what I understand of the disease, it’s pretty accurate, mild even.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_headaches

]]> By: Christopher Ing http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179026 Christopher Ing Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179026 My blog of scientific images (many artistic renditions) but numerous other iconic scientific images have been posted! http://freshphotons.tumblr.com/archive My blog of scientific images (many artistic renditions) but numerous other iconic scientific images have been posted!
http://freshphotons.tumblr.com/archive

]]> By: Bryan Johnson http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179022 Bryan Johnson Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179022 the first time i saw a diagram of the hiv virus--i thought it was so beautiful and yet so horrifying. . . the first time i saw a diagram of the hiv virus–i thought it was so beautiful and yet so horrifying. . .

]]> By: rob_cornelius http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179018 rob_cornelius Tue, 02 Aug 2011 20:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179018 my vote goes to the Hubble Deep Field Image, no wait the Blue Marble image that was the first pic of the whole of the planet from orbit.... yes that one for sure my vote goes to the Hubble Deep Field Image, no wait the Blue Marble image that was the first pic of the whole of the planet from orbit…. yes that one for sure

]]> By: Fef http://boingboing.net/2011/08/02/whats-the-most-iconic-scientific-image.html#comment-1179014 Fef Tue, 02 Aug 2011 20:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=111889#comment-1179014 Agree with Vitruvian Man, though it's over-applied to refer to just about anything these days. If you want a simple image that conveys a simple, "THIS IS SCIENCE!" message, kinda hard to beat a double helix. (Though this, too, gets applied to all sorts of new age-y BS... Agree with Vitruvian Man, though it’s over-applied to refer to just about anything these days.
If you want a simple image that conveys a simple, “THIS IS SCIENCE!” message, kinda hard to beat a double helix. (Though this, too, gets applied to all sorts of new age-y BS…

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